Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Happy Valley - 2nd November 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Dongguan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.60 Standard Time: 1:10.10 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Zac Purton and David Hall combined in the opening event of the day as RAGNARR (AUS 6yo g Olympic Glory – Plain Magic) bounced back to winning ways. The champion jockey allowed the race to unfold ahead of him into the first turn, before sliding across into a midfield position from barrier 10. Purton found the rail through the middle stages of the race, with the gelding travelling sweetly off the back and around the home turn. Purton stuck to the inside on straightening and with the field fanning wider, the gaps were there to sprint through if he was good enough. It was a relatively easy steer for Purton in the straight, asking for an effort with 200m remaining with the six-year-old taking the lead inside the final 100m. Purton was only hands and heels in the straight, with the gelding getting the job done by a neck on the line with relative ease. SPEEDY SMARTIE rolled forward from barrier seven and slid across to land on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. Karis Teetan continued to kick up between runners to avoid being crossed as they approached the 600m point, with the gelding travelling strongly around the home turn. He kicked well at the top of the straight to take the lead, but he couldn't fend off Ragnarr as he loomed ominously with 100m to run. He didn't go down without a fight, but he bumped into one better on the day. RUN RUN TIMING was doing his best work late in the race, flying home down the outside from a midfield position to finish in third.
Race 2 – Foshan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.27 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
DAN ATTACK (AUS 7yo g Deep Field – She's A Stalker) continued his hot start to the season, changing tactics to lead all of the way in race two on the card. After the jump, a big clump of runners were all vying for the leading positions, which force Harry Bentley's hand as they entered the back straight. The Englishman was forced to roll forward down the back, taking the lead and extending his margin through the middle stages to lead by 1-1/2 lengths with 400m remaining. The gelding kicked strongly on straightening and was two or three lengths in front at the furlong pole, though he was getting tired as they came to the 100m marker. It didn't matter however as he'd built a big enough gap on his rivals, finishing a half-length clear at the post in a strong performance. QUICK CONTRIBUTION wasn't the quickest into stride from an inside barrier with Karis Teetan ending up in a midfield position along the rail. He was shuffled back a touch as they sorted their order out down the back straight and needed plenty of luck around the home turn. The gaps came however and from the 400m point, the Mauritian was able to build into the race, sticking to the inside fence and going underneath his rivals. He finished off strongly to be a half-length away on the line. SONIC PURSUIT took a sit off Dan Attack as they sorted their order out and was unable to reel him back in over the concluding stages, finishing 2-1/4 lengths back in third.
Race 3 – Huizhou Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.35 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Hugh Bowman and Danny Shum joined forces in race three with FANTASTIC FUN (AUS 5yo g Justify – Tails Wins) making it back-to-back victories. Despite jumping well from a wide barrier, Bowman eased the gelding into a midfield position entering the first turn, slotting him into the running line in a good piece of riding. The speed was solid and the five-year-old relaxed well as they travelled through the middle stages of the race. Bowman was niggling at his mount as they turned off the back, but he began to pick up nicely approaching the home turn, swinging wide and into the clear as they entered the straight. He spotted the leader a big head start, but the gelding got stuck into his work and stormed home down the outside with big bounds. He got his nose down on the line, scoring back-to-back wins in exciting fashion. SAMARKAND rolled across from the outside barrier to set the tempo under Lyle Hewitson, keeping the field running through the middle stages. He was still travelling strongly to the turn and kicked impressively on straightening to extend his margin to the 150m point. He was coming back to them at the 100m mark and was eventually collared right on the post by Fantastic Fun. OUR LUCKY GLORY ran on well to be a length away at the finish, sneaking up the inside in the straight.
Race 4 – Shantou Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 57.14 Standard Time: 57.20 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
DAY DAY VICTORY (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Onemorezeta) returned to winning ways with a strong performance, getting over the top of his rivals in his second start for the Michael Chang barn. The gelding jumped well from gate four, but the French hoop Alexis Badel allowed the race to unfold early on, landing in the second half of the field as they sorted their order out. He travelled well to the turn but needed some luck on straightening with horses whipping up around him, though the gaps appeared early in the stretch with Badel slicing through with 200m remaining. He was still a couple of lengths off them with 150m remaining, but he showed plenty of late strength to storm down the outside, taking the lead inside the final 50m and he ran away to score comfortably in the end. HEALTHY HEALTHY kicked up along the inside to hold a position just off the speed under Harry Bentley. He was crossed midway down the back straight, but the Englishman forced his way into the clear on straightening as he made his charge aboard the top weight. Healthy Healthy ran to the lead inside the final 100m but couldn't fend off the winner who was just too good on the day. MR DESIRA stuck on gamely after setting the tempo from a wide stall, finishing just a length off the winner in a bunched finish.
Race 5 – The Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.10 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
ARGENTO OCEAN (AUS 4yo g D'Argento – Ocean Spray) made it a winning double for both Hugh Bowman and Douglas Whyte, notching up his maiden in at his fifth career start. The flashy grey jumped quickly and rolled across from out wide, leading the field into the first turn before being taken on up front entering the back straight. Hugh Bowman was happy to take a sit off the speed, getting cover down the back straight as sat on the back of the leader. The four-year-old travelled sweetly to the run, though he was showing signs of inexperience when Bowman asked for an effort, hanging in early in the straight. Once he balanced up, he let down powerfully to reel in the leader in a matter of strides and sprinting away from his rivals with 150m to run. Bowman eased him down late, with the official margin being one length, though he looks to have more to offer. LUCKY MCQUEEN was a touch slow into stride and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down. Matthew Chadwick was unable to make the most of an inside barrier, but the gelding did pinch some ground along the fence as they turned off the back. The local hoop angled out on the home turn and he let down nicely, running on strongly from beyond midfield to finish a clear second, although he never looked like winning. BROWNNEEDSFURTHER stuck on well down the outside to finish in third position, getting the nod in a tight three-way photo finish for the minor placing.
Race 6 – Shenzhen Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.06 Standard Time: 1:49.65 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
HAKKA RADIANCE (GB 5yo g Massaat – Kalia Asha) made it a hat-trick of wins as he made the jump to Class 4, handing Zac Purton and Danny Shum a double on the day. After jumping well from a middle barrier, Purton rolled forward to land just off the speed, getting cover with a lap to run. He cruised around in the one-out-one-back position throughout the race with no change to the order, as an even speed was set through the middle stages. Coming to the 400m point, Purton popped three-wide and began to build into the race, joining the leader at the top of the stretch. He quickly stormed to the front a long way from home, but they weren't making any ground on him, and he shot away for an emphatic win. FIREFOOT had been on the back of Hakka Radiance throughout the run and tried to match motors when the move came on straightening. He couldn't sprint with the winner, but he stuck on strongly under Harry Bentley to hold on for second place in a close go for the minors. OCEAN IMPACT closed off steadily to finish in third place, just ahead of the fast-finishing Management Folks.
Race 7 – The Kwangtung Handicap Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.67 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
HARMONY N BLESSED (AUS 9yo g Magnus – Fly To Win) returned to winning ways as he dropped back in grade off a few disappointing efforts so far this season. The old boy jumped well from an inside barrier and put himself on the speed with ease from gate two. He was crossed midway down the back, but it allowed Purton a lovely run in transit, stalking the speed with clear galloping room. Purton peeled into the clear at the top of the straight and he looked confident with 300m to run, but the pair had to dig deep late in the race. Eternal Fortune wouldn't go away, but Purton lifted the nine-year-old when it mattered most, scoring by a short head on the line. ETERNAL FORTUNE settled just off the speed from barrier seven after sliding across with ease early in the race. Hugh Bowman was right there on the back of Purton and Harmony N Blessed as they rounded the home turn and he was poised to strike on straightening. He moved up to Harmony N Blessed midway down the straight, but he couldn't stick his nose in front at any stage, going under narrowly. QUARTZ LEGEND finished off nicely from well back to take home third position as a $42 chance in a tight finish for third place.
Race 8 – Zhaoqing Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.27 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
BRAVE STAR (AUS 7yo g Myboycharlie – Isador Amore) picked up his first win in 12 months, sitting close to the speed and getting the job done as he dropped in class today. He jumped on terms under Vincent Ho from an inside barrier and was able to settle on the back of the race leader with ease into the back stretch. The seven-year-old enjoyed a lovely run throughout with a solid tempo being set up front. He was poised to strike coming to the turn and with some room to move, Ho got three-wide on the home turn and made his move. He took the lead with 100m to run and despite a strong effort from Aurora Patch, he drew away over the concluding stages. AURORA PATCH worked across to settle on the outside of the leader on settling down. Andrea Atzeni moved up to apply some pressure to the leader on the home turn and took control of the race shortly after straightening. Brave Star put in his bid midway down the straight, but Aurora Patch wasn't going away easily. In the end, the winner was too strong late and Aurora Patch finished a half-length away. SPORTS LEGEND finished off nicely down the outside for Angus Chung to finish in third position, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 9 – Guangzhou Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.90 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.10 Beauty Waves
STORM RIDER (AUS 5yo g Dracarys – Zeffiretta) had been knocking on the door of a victory and landed the knockout blow in the penultimate event for Karis Teetan and David Hayes. From an inside barrier, Teetan was looking to make use of the light weight as he settled on the back of the leader who went out strongly in front. The Mauritian hoop rated his mount well through the middle stages, kicking up along the fence as they turned off the back and getting off heels and into the clear on straightening. He moved up to take the lead with 200m to run but was challenged late in proceedings. The five-year-old fought off his neares rival, getting the job done by a neck on the line after being back into favouritism. COLOURFUL KING jumped well from the wide barrier and worked across to land in the one-out-one-back position for Andrea Atzeni. Through the middle stages of the race, he just lost touch with Storm Rider as Teetan made his move, with the Sicilian hoop swinging down the middle of the track with his run. He came after the leader strongly in the straight but couldn't reel him in as he finished a close second. AURORA LADY snuck through closer to the inside to finish in third position, turning in a strong effort for Alex Badel and Pierre Ng.
Race 10 – Zhuhai Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.28 Standard Time: 1:39.90 Course/Class record: 1:38.34 Highland Rahy
It was an upset in the final race of the day with I CAN (NZ 6yo g Iffraaj – Khaseeb) turning his form right around to win as a $51 chance. Despite getting off to a good start, Luke Ferraris ended up sliding back to settle in the second half of the field entering the first turn. The pace was only steady early on, though things did quicken down the back straight with a change of leader at the midway point of the race. With around 700m to run, a move came from the back which Ferraris trailed, getting a lovely tow into the race out three-wide and being well within striking distance as the sprint went on at the 400m point. The sic-year-old ambled up out wider on the turn and took the lead early in the straight, breaking a couple of lengths clear of his rivals. King Lotus made a late challenge, but it was too late as I Can caused an upset in the finale. KING LOTUS landed midfield and along the rail for Lyle Hewitson and while it did look a sticky position turning off the back, a good piece of riding from the South African saw him get off the fence and into the race on the turn. He was on the back of I Can on straightening, but he had the momentum up while King Lotus needed to pick up. He finished off nicely but couldn't peg back the margin just enough. SPIRIT OF PEACE finished in third after ending up well back in the run.
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