After a string of highlights spread across 341 races and 39 meetings at Happy Valley over the past 10 months, the scene is set for the final meeting of the 2023/24 season at the city circuit, with the first race to start at 6.35pm.
Happy Valley has long been at the heart of Hong Kong’s world-class racing and tonight’s meeting will determine which trainer – either Danny Shum or Caspar Fownes – is acclaimed as the iconic venue’s leading trainer for the season.
Danny leads with 32 wins, one clear of Caspar (31) with Tony Cruz (26 wins), Ricky Yiu (26) and Douglas Whyte (25) next. Danny has previously topped the Happy Valley standings once, while Caspar is revered as the ‘King of the Valley’ with 11 wins.
Danny’s best chances appear to be CHILL CHIBI and BRAVE WITNESS, while Caspar’s main hopes rest with CAMINO, VALHALLA and FRUITY WARRIOR.
The fate of the Hong Kong trainers’ championship is still to be determined with Pierre Ng (67 wins) holding a slim lead over Francis Lui (66). Both trainers have strong representation tonight, with Pierre’s entry headed by KA YING CHEER, PLENTIFUL, WINNING STEPS, YODA’S CHOICE, TURIN MASCOT, BULB EMPEROR, MOTOMAN and SUPREME AGILITY.
Francis will pin his hopes on MATSU VICTOR, HAROLD WIN, NOBLE ONE, RUNNING BOY, JOY COMING, YELLOWFIN, UNIVERSAL HORIZON, DO YOUR PART and HAMERON.
Zac Purton rides MATSU VICTOR and JOY COMING for Francis and SUPREME AGILITY for Pierre.
In the fight of the master against his former assistant, I seen an opportunity for Pierre in not only keeping the advantage, but he also has a great chance in Race 8 with KA YING CHEER if he can master the switch to 1000m and best the course and distance winner YOUTHFUL SPIRIT, who will be ridden by Zac.
Reflecting on the Happy Valley season so far, Vincent Ho’s feat to become the first home-grown rider to win the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship was a clear stand-out and I congratulate Vincent on his effort to recover from injury and prevail against the best jockeys in the world.
Complementing the excellent racing on offer tonight, Happy Valley’s world-famous Beer Garden will mark the Happy Wednesday Finale with an entertainment programme led by More Of Us and DJ Shyne, as well as samba dancers, food and beverages.
The jockeys’ parade after Race 7 will allow racegoers to interact with our elite riders, who will be giving out limited-edition mini horse plushes to celebrate the close of a wonderful Happy Valley season.
Our jockeys are amazingly skilled athletes and few tracks in the world allow patrons to witness these brilliant horsemen at such close quarters as Happy Valley. Tonight, our world-class jockeys will take part in the parade to thank their fans for their wonderful support during the 2023/24 season.
Racegoers can also participate in a quiz to win prizes including stable visits to see our champion horses GOLDEN SIXTY or ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
The Class 3 Sun Jewellery Handicap (1650m) is the meeting’s feature and is carded as Race 6 at 9.05pm for prizemoney of HK$3.12 million.
The pace will be good. TOMODACHI KOKOROE races on the speed and Zac may choose to lead on him from his good draw. OUTGATE and YELLOWFIN like to race in the forward division and will go forward from their wide gates and WOODFIRE BRO should be handy to the speed from his inside gate.
OUTGATE has won three races this season, including two here over this course and distance. OUTGATE went forward to sit outside the leader TELECOM FIGHTERS early here on 10 July before being shuffled back to fourth and then coming widest in the straight with a powerful finish to beat YELLOWFIN. OUTGATE will go forward again and the wide gate makes it harder for Angus Chung, but his last win was impressive and OUTGATE is a win and place chance.
In that race, YELLOWFIN settled third on the rail behind the leader. When MOMENTS IN TIME and HELENE FEELING made mid-race moves, YELLOWFIN was shuffled back to fifth down the back and YELLOWFIN stayed near the rail and dashed through to take the lead within the last 100m before being claimed by OUTGATE in the concluding stages. Andre Atzeni rides YELLOWFIN for the first time tonight and he is a place chance.
HELENE FEELING ran well in the race won by OUTGATE, taking off down the back straight with MOMENTS IN TIME before sitting second and then challenging in the straight and staying on well to finish fourth, less than a length from the winner. HELENE FEELING will have benefitted from time in Conghua since that run and with Hugh Bowman riding him for the first time and he is a place chance.
TOMODACHI KOKOROE has won four races this season at Happy Valley all over 1200m and was extended beyond that distance for the first time in Hong Kong giving a strong kick in the straight to be narrowly beaten by CHIU CHOW SPIRIT in the Hong Kong Reunification Cup over 1400 on 1 July at Sha Tin. Zac Purton will have TOMODACHI KOKOROE in a striking position from gate four and he is a place chance.
CHILL CHIBI (Jerry Chau) and BERLIN TANGO (Brenton Avdulla) are both effective at this course and distance and are capable of finishing in the first three.
ADEFILL is an interesting runner for Ricky Yiu and Karis Teetan. He brings winning form into the race but from the Sha Tin All Weather. All of his six wins have been on the All Weather and this is ADEFILL’s first start on turf since December 2022 and the first time he races at Happy Valley.
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