The continuous quest for excellence is at the core of all Club activities and last Sunday (9 July), we witnessed history and high achievement with the feats of Zac Purton, Francis Lui, David Hall and Alexis Badel.
Zac broke Joao Moreira’s record of 170 for the most wins in a season and, after Sunday’s four-timer, has 173 victories for the campaign – and still has two meetings in which to add to the total.
Zac’s resilience and professionalism have shone through the 2022/23 season, which could easily have been negatively impacted by injury and the mental challenges associated with maintaining the stellar standards Zac is renowned for but he has shown tremendous commitment and discipline to set a new benchmark with a winning strike rate of 24.8% across almost 700 rides.
Famed for his association with Golden Sixty, Francis is one of Hong Kong racing’s quiet achievers. A graduate of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentice Jockeys’ School in the 1970s, Francis has an association of more than five decades with the Club.
Last Sunday, a four-timer with lightly-raced horses Silver Sonic, Call Me Dandy, Golden Samurai and Sweet Briar catapulted Francis to 64 wins for the season – the best seasonal tally of his career since he was licensed in 1996/97.
At 64, Francis is thriving. So, too, is David Hall who took his tally of wins to 42 – his career-high for a single season – while BMW Hong Kong Derby-winning jockey Alexis Badel reached 200 Hong Kong victories with his success on Frankie Lor’s Adios.
And so, after another compelling season of high-quality racing, we celebrate Happy Valley’s season finale tonight. Following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions in March, the city circuit’s Beer Garden has reprised its world-famous vibe with the welcome return of patrons.
Once more a Wednesday night destination of choice for customers, the Beer Garden Summer of Festivals entertainment culminates with the ultimate summer carnival, which is headlined by Chris Polanco and his band.
A Latino theme will envelop the Beer Garden between races, with professional dancers showing their best salsa and samba moves as patrons enjoy a variety of food and beverages while enjoying the outstanding music and dancing.
The Happy Valley season finale meeting closes with the Class 2 Sun Jewellery Handicap, which is run over 1650m for prize money of HK$2.9 million at 10.50pm.
The pace in the race will be good with Telecom Fighters the obvious leader from his rails draw. Nimble Nimbus from gate three and Packing Award, drawn five, will settle on speed. Winning Dragon and Grateful Heart have also drawn well and should be in the leading division.
Son Pak Fu will be suited by a strong pace. He won four on end at this course over 1200m and last start ran home to be runner-up to highly promising Dancing Code over the same trip on 14 June. It will be interesting to see how Son Pak Fu handles extending to 1650m for the first time but he has had an excellent season and is a place chance.
Nimble Nimbus has won three races over this course and distance this season and led and stayed on at his most recent run on 31 May over 1800m behind Meaningful Star and Butterfield. Brenton Avdulla takes the ride and should give him a perfect run on the speed from his draw, Nimble Nimbus is my win and place selection.
Packing Award ran well last start when he led and stayed on in the straight to finish fourth to Tuchel over 1800m in the G3 Premier Plate at Sha Tin on 25 June. Packing Award is a five-time winner at this course and distance and Karis Teetan should be able to give him a good run. He is a place chance.
Savaquin went back from a wide gate and never threatened last start when a well-beaten fifth to Encountered over this course and distance on 14 June. Savaquin will have benefitted from time at Conghua since his last start, has his best draw for a number of starts and Zac Purton is a positive riding engagement. I make him a place chance.
This is a competitive race to bring down the curtain on another wonderful season of racing at Happy Valley with a number of runners having claims on their best form. Prime Minister is a last-start winner and Galaxy Witness who comes to the track for the first time also has claims along with Butterfield and Winning Dragon who has a good record of surprising at long odds.
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