Happy Valley tips article for the race meeting on 5th October 2022

Selections and analysis for Wednesday’s (05/10/22) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley.

Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Race 1: #7 Awesome Treasure, #3 Ping Hai Galaxy, #2 Seizing The Moment, #1 Equaletta Blitz
Race 2: #1 Island Surprise, #2 Diamond Soars, #5 Hearty Wish, #4 Flying On The Turf
Race 3: #8 Amigos Giggle, #3 Baby, #2 Big Two, #6 Sunny Delight
Race 4: #9 Medic Elite, #7 Loyal Ambition, #5 Mister Arm, #4 Passing Fashion
Race 5: #9 Fortune Master, #12 Raging Blaze, #4 Wins All, #1 Cigar Buddies
Race 6: #8 Storm Legend, #6 Viva Hunter, #4 King's Capital, #3 Master Hero
Race 7: #5 Adios, #2 Namjong Sings, #1 Drops Of God, #4 Xponential
Race 8: #2 Gang Of Brothers, #9 Happy Forever, #8 Sight Hero, #10 My Intelligent
Race 9: #11 Rattan Kingdom, #8 Hardly Swears, #6 Yellowfin, #2 Goodluck Goodluck

Race 1: Heung Yip Handicap

Difficult contest to kick off the midweek card. Expect #7 Awesome Treasure can improve following a sold first-up effort over the course and distance. He gets a handy pull in weight with just 116lb assigned here. #3 Ping Hai Galaxy can turn his form around second-up. He was very, very poor upon resumption but has shown before that he is capable of drastically reversing his form. #2 Seizing The Moment should find the right spot from the draw. #1 Equaletta Blitz is after a hat-trick of wins. Keep safe.

Race 2: Island Handicap (2nd Section)

#1 Island Surprise arguably should have won first-up when he narrowly missed. The retention of Zac Purton here is a positive and any improvement from his first-up effort should see him prove hard to beat. #2 Diamond Soars is progressing well and draws favourably for this race. He gets his chance for the in-form Ricky Yiu. #5 Hearty Wish has claims but will need to offset the wide gate. #4 Flying On The Turf is the first runner for Jamie Richards. Keep this horse very, very safe.

Race 3: Nam Fung Handicap

#8 Amigos Giggle steps out first-up for the in-form Vincent Ho and Caspar Fownes combination. He's trialled well in the lead-up to his return assignment and the inside gate and light weight will give him every opportunity here. #3 Baby should find the right spot as he chases back-to-back wins. He's competitive at the city circuit. #2 Big Two gets a better draw this time and should be able to take closer order. #6 Sunny Delight's been knocking on the door for a while now. He has claims. 

Race 4: Shum Wan Handicap

#9 Medic Elite was luckless first-up and nearly should have won the race. Still, he can come out and perform once more, especially from a solid draw with Luke Ferraris sticking aboard. #7 Loyal Ambition is racing well and looks ready to peak third-up now following the break. #5 Mister Arm mixes his form but can figure with a few favours. #4 Passing Fashion should find the front from gate five. He'll take a bit of catching – as he has done previously – here under Ruan Maia.

Race 5: Island Handicap (1st Section)

#9 Fortune Master steps out for his new trainer Jamie Richards. He's tumbled down the handicap and this contest appears suitable. He's trialled well and the inside gate should hand him the run of the race. #12 Raging Blaze is without a win but has shown tremendous consistency across his 17-start career in Hong Kong. Zac Purton's booking bears close watching. #4 Wins All gets the draw and should run this group along from out in front. #1 Cigar Buddies will do the same but from a wide draw. Must respect. 

Race 6: Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup Handicap

#8 Storm Legend is unlucky not to already be a winner. He's consistent but is having a hard time getting his nose over the line in first spot. Nevertheless, gate one should see him receive the run of the race against a small, compact field. #6 Viva Hunter can improve second-up. He knows what racing at the Valley is all about. #4 King's Capital can do the same, especially with Zac Purton taking the reins from gate four. #3 Master Hero did well to finish fourth first-up. He can take another step forward here.

Race 7: Tai Shue Wan Handicap

#5 Adios caught the eye first-up and has always eluded to having his fair share of ability. This looks to be the case and from gate four, he should be getting every opportunity. #2 Namjong Sings is nothing short of consistent. He returned in sound order first-up and is a three-time winner in this grade already. #1 Drops Of God closed off soundly for second last time out. Zac Purton retains the mount and he gets his chance once more. #4 Xponential did well to finish fourth after travelling wide first-up. Next best.

Race 8: Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1st Section)

#2 Gang Of Brothers closed nicely for second first-up for his new trainer Pierre Ng. Expect he can take another step forward here following that run, that is, as long he can offset the wide draw. #9 Happy Forever trialled soundly and has shown sparks of potential in the past. He's better than his record suggests and draw one should bring him into contention. #8 Sight Hero is consistent, even if he doesn't manage to win out of turn. #10 My Intelligent has trialled well and looks ready first-up.

Race 9: Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (2nd Section)

Blinkers go on #11 Rattan Kingdom as he chases a first win. Chances are he rolls forward in a bid to do so and this contest is more than winnable. #8 Hardly Swears did well first-up and should improve here. The wide gate isn't ideal but he's tracking towards another win. #6 Yellowfin is closing in on a first win. He caught the eye leading throughout in a recent trial at Sha Tin under Joao Moreira. #2 Goodluck Goodluck steps away off a competitive mark. The inside draw is suitable.


Hong Kong Jockey Club