It was a delightful start to the year with some exceptional results at our New Year’s Day race meeting. Total attendance between our racecourses was in excess of 86,000 and total handle topped the HK$1.57 billion mark. Both were the record figures for the day.
The day’s feature, and the first pattern race of the year, went to the Ricky Yiu-trained Blizzard as this five-year-old produced a terrific turn-of-foot to take this G3 event. It was a long overdue maiden group race victory for this talented horse, who showed his great versatility in various distances. It’s good to see him making this breakthrough and he could eye some bigger prizes later this month, though it seems it is still to be determined which race he will be pointed towards.
Looking towards those races, I’m sure some of you have noticed that Able Friend trialled very well yesterday morning, showing he has recovered nicely following the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Two top four-year-olds, namely Rapper Dragon and Eagle Way, also attracted plenty of attention with their solid trials yesterday, and reminding us all there is much to anticipate in the coming weeks.
Tonight’s seventh race is the only pattern event held at Happy Valley, and this year’s edition of the G3 January Cup will actually be the first international Group race to be conducted at the historic venue. The pace is projected to be good-to-slow with Packing Dragon the likely leader, especially carrying a very light weight. Helene Super Star and Twin Delight should adopt stalking positions. Horse Of Fortune could be handy towards the front or settle midpack given his carrying top weight in this field. Romantic Touch and Flame Hero will likely be in mid-pack along with Basic Trilogy. Harbour Master should be near the rear with Circuit Land, Renaissance Art and Gonna Run.
Horse Of Fortune is working quite well and is very difficult to oppose considering his quality run behind Maurice in the Hong Kong Cup. Beaten just 4.5 lengths, he will have to overcome the handicap but is well drawn in gate two, has shown much success at Happy Valley in the past and is my main win and place chance. Gonna Run had two wins at Happy Valley last season and while this is a class jump, he is well handicapped with just 113 pounds, and I think he could run in the first three. Packing Dragon should overcome his bad draw with speed in this field and even though he is well out of the handicap in this field, could stay for a placing given the likely pace.
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