Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Happy Valley - 14th May 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Yue Man Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:48.94 Standard Time: 1:50.05 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars
KINGLY DEMEANOR (GB 5yo g Oasis Dream – Brom Felinity) picked up his third win of the season in a big return to form, surprising with an all-the-way victory as a $12 chance. Keith Yeung rolled to the front from barrier 7 to find the front at the winning post with a lap to go, eventually getting across to lead outright as they entered the first turn. Once he got to the front, he was able to dictate the speed and after slowing the tempo down the side of the course, Yeung picked up to keep the field rolling down the back straight. He was pressured with 400m to run, but Yeung kept his cool as he still had a strong hold on the five-year-old around the home turn. He kicked well at the top of the straight when asked for an effort and maintained his advantage right to the line. He wouldn't be caught and secured a three-quarter-length victory. GOLD TACK ended up in a midfield position from barrier four, racing between horses around the first turn. Antoine Hamelin had the gelding travelling well through the middle stages and he moved into the three-wide line with around 600m to run so he could begin to make his move. He ended up getting to the middle of the course on straightening and was making his run right down the outside. He was there to win if good enough, but couldn't catch the winner and had to settle for second position. LEATHER MASTER was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race and rolled forward down the back straight to be in the one-out-one-back position with 500m to run. He kept on well to the line, crossing the line in third position, just a length off the winner.
Race 2 – Choi Wan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.33 Standard Time: 57.35 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
SEASONS WIT (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Grand Gesture) picked up his first win for over 18 months, getting back to winning ways for Lyle Hewitson and Jamie Richards. From the inside barrier, Lyle Hewitson urged the gelding along to be prominent in the run, but he didn't have the speed to match his rivals early on and settled in the back half of the field. He was along the inside as they turned off the back, but Hewitson was able to swing into the clear around the home turn and began to make his charge down the outside. Just as it looked like he was going to go under, he found another gear and kicked strongly with 100m to run and broke away to win by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. ETERNAL FORTUNE was eased out of the speed battle early by Ellis Wong and ended up on the outside of Seasons Wit in the run. He was pushed off the track as the winner made his move on the turn, but they made their runs together and at the 150m point it looked as though Eternal Fortune may win the race. He just peaked on the run with 100m remaining and Seasons Wit proved too strong, though he finished in second position quite comfortably. STELLAR EXPRESS was on the back of the leader in running and was there to strike if good enough on the turn. He just plugged away back to the inside and ended up in third, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
Race 3 – Wu King Handicap, $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.76 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
SURE JOYFUL (NZ 6yo g Tarzino – Kayleen) was another early in the card who got back to winning ways following a disappointing performance in his past couple of outings. Mtthew Poon got the gelding away in good order and tried to hold his position around the first turn, sitting in the one-out-one-back slot. With the leaders kicking away, it meant that Poon ended up just off the speed but remained within striking distance with a good tempo being set up front. As things worked out, Poon was right there to strike turning off the back and inside the 400m mark he moved into the race well, getting into clear air down the middle of the track. He was veery wayward inside the final 200m under the riding of Poon and pushed his rivals off the track. His more fancied opponent couldn't get by him late in the race and he held on to win by a short head. MIDORI FUJI was taken back to the tail of the field on jumping and was a long way back past the 1000m point and into the back straight. As the race unfolded, Bowman got off the inside rail and moved into the running line, improving his position down the back before getting into clear air approaching the home turn. He was wide into the straight but was pushed wider inside the last 150m by Sure Joyful who laid out under riding. They bumped a few times close to home, prompting Bowman and trainer David Eustace to review the patrol footage. In the end, the duo did not lodge a protest, and they settled for second position. FOREVER GLORIOUS was trying to squeeze through a gap close to home between horses and was chopped out badly by Sure Joyful. He eased out of the gap to finish in third position, only 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 4 – Choi Hung Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:38.86 Standard Time: 1:39.30 Course/Class record: 1:37.90 Woodfire Bro
CALIFORNIATOTALITY (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Total Attraction) made it back-to-back wins as he dropped back in trip today. He jumped well from barrier two and put himself on the speed from the draw, landing on the back of the leader on settling down. It was just a moderate tempo early on before the speed ramped up down the back straight and Californiatotality came off the bit a long way from home. He ducked back to the inside on straightening and just when it looked like he wouldn't get there, he came through underneath the leader. SOLEIL FIGHTER rolled forward from the widest barrier to sit up on the speed, landing on the outside of the leader as they entered the first turn. The gelding travelled well in the run and moved up to take the lead on straightening. He looked to shake his rivals with 200m to run but couldn't quite get away as Californiatotality came up on his inside. He held on for second position, but the winner was just too good late. C P BRAVE loomed large late in the race after making a looping from the back but just peaked on the run late in the race.
Race 5 – Tin Sau Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.90 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
A relatively tough night for punters continued with KING LOTUS (AUS 3yo g Royal Meeting – L'Etoile) bringing up his maiden victory as a $29 chance, giving Lyle Hewitson a double on the night. The gelding wasn't the fastest into stride and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down. A good tempo was put on up front and King Lotus was back between horses in the second half of the field but was able to improve his position turning off the back straight. He got a nice tow into the race around the home turn and was the widest runner in the straight as he went via the grandstand to make his run. It took him a while to pick up in the straight, but his final 100m was outstanding as he stormed over the top late, upsetting his rivals by a neck on the line. GALAXY WITNESS jumped the race favourite as he dropped back into Class 4 but couldn't end his winning drought. After being crowded at the start, Hugh Bowman found himself at the back of the field aboard Galaxy Witness, sitting along the fence as they passed the 600m mark. He was unable to improve his position off the back, but as runners fanned wide coming to the final corner, Bowman was able to slide underneath them at the top of the stretch. The gaps appeared and the $2.7 favourite shot through, but he never quite had the measure of King Lotus. FORTUNE WHISKEY was caught wide and without cover throughout the race and was only beaten 1-1/4 lengths at the post.
Race 6 – Tin Sau Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.86 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
BIENVENUE (AUS 3yo g Star Turn – Zagara) secured his maiden win at start 10, giving Zac Purton his first winner on the card. After jumping well from out wide, Zac Purton was left wide and without cover around the first turn and tried to roll forward and get on the outside of the leader. He had to use some petrol to get there but eventually did with around 700m remaining and Purton was poised to strike around the home turn. He moved up on the outside of the leader on straightening and took the lead with 200m to run. He was far too strong late in the race, gaining the upper hand and getting away from his rivals late to score a 1-1/4 length victory. TOP PEAK rolled forward after a good getaway and lobbed just off the speed under Jerry Chau. He travelled well through the middle stages and got into the clear on the point of the home turn as Chau made his run down the middle of the track. He ran on well down the outside to finish in second position, but he never really looked like winning at any stage in the straight. KNOW AT HEART was another who closed off well late in the race after settling worse than midfield, running into third in a blanket finish for the minor placings.
Race 7 – Tin Sau Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.03 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
After being well beaten his past three starts, HAYDAY (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Waitomo Toka) dropped back into Class 4 and bounced back to wining ways, bringing up a double for Matthew Poon. The local hoop fired the gelding out of the barriers, and he rolled forward to take up the running from barrier 10. He was pressured up front, which set a solid tempo in the race, but they weren't going too hard up front with Hayday travelling sweetly to the home turn. He had plenty to offer as he kicked away on straightening, leading by over a length with 150m to run. He was getting tired late in the race, but he had built enough of a gap to hold off his rivals, securing the win by three-quarters of-a-length. VULCANUS landed midfield from barrier one and settled along the inside rail for Keagan De Melo. He needed some luck with 500m remaining and was hemmed up along the inside around the home turn, but with the leaders getting off the fence it opened the gap De Melo needed. He sprinted well back to the inside and snuck through to take second position in a photo finish. SOLAR RIVER was just in front of Vulcanus in the run, landing on the back of the leader. He had his chance if he was good enough but felt the pinch late to finish in third.
Race 8 – Nam Shan Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.24 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
CAMBRIDGE (IRE 4yo g Dubawi – Amerique) picked up his maiden win at start six with Jerry Chau taking the ride. The gelding got away on terms and Chau looked to work across from barrier seven, eventually landing in a midfield position heading into the first turn. The pace was good up front and Cambridge travelled well through the middle stages, maybe a touch keen passing the 800m point but he built into the race ominously off the back. Chau hadn't moved on the gelding, and he swung around the turn to join the leaders on straightening. He didn't sprint with them at the top of the straight, but it was his final 100m that was most impressive, picking up his rivals with strength and putting them away. He went on to win by a half-length on the line in comfortably fashion. EXCELLENCE VALUE held his position from barrier two to end up just off the speed for Luke Ferraris as they sorted their order out. He was away from the rail in the run and that was ideal as he began to make his move turning off the back straight. The South African hoop worked around his opponents to join the leader at the top of the straight, before sprinting quickly on straightening to take the lead. He was still a length in front with 100m to run but was gunned down late by Cambridge who was just too strong late. SAMARKAND sat up on the speed throughout the race and turned in a bold effort, only going down by 1-1/4 lengths after leading the field turning into the straight.
Race 9 – Hoi Lai Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.24 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
CRIMSON FLASH (AUS 3yo g Showtime – Damselle) made it a double on the night for trainer Mark Newnham, scoring in the final event of the day with Andrea Atzeni in the saddle. The gelding jumped well from gate six and had the speed to roll forward, sitting close to the speed under Atzeni. He moved up to sit on the outside of the leader turning off the back and eyeballed the leader around the home turn. He sprinted quickly on straightening and put his rivals to bed, going strongly all the way to the line and scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. STORM RIDER jumped well and put himself in a handy position just off the speed. He was on the back of the eventual winner in the run and had to be urged along down the back to keep in touch with the leading division. As they swung around the turn, Purton had his chance to land the knockout blow with the gelding having plenty of galloping room to move. Despite the run he had, he couldn't reel in Crimson Flash and was forced to settle for second position. STORMING DRAGON flew home late in the race to take third position as a $23 chance, but he was two lengths off the winner.
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