RACE – 1 FUKUSHIMA HANDICAP, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.62 Standard Time: 1:10.20 Course/Class Record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Winner: HAPPILY FRIENDS (IRE 6yo g Requinto - Maraglen) jumped on terms from gate five, but opted out of the speed battle that saw them four across at the front in the early stages. Came up for air during the middle section in a one-out two-back position, before seizing a gap through the centre upon straightening. Hit the line strongly to just get up on the post in a perfectly timed ride by Ho.
Runner-Up: U W BROTHER has won only one race out of 30 attempts but looked all set to bring up win number two until the last stride. Was the inside runner of the first four across the track before taking a sit in behind the hectic tempo. Took the length of the straight to eventually overcome the early leader, before just being nabbed in the final bound. Continues to be a frustrating conveyance for connections.
Run Of The Race: RAGING BLAZE settled at the tail of the field and ran into plenty of traffic in the home straight. Had to be restrained on numerous occasions and never really got clear air. Is surely due a maiden victory shortly?
Disappointment: FORTUNE MARBO was well-supported late in the piece and had a soft rails run in transit. Found nothing when asked and faded to finish second last.
Comparison: Well inside standard in a frantic affair.
Market Mover: FORTUNE MARBO $16 to $9.10
RACE – 2 FUKUSHIMA HANDICAP, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.09 Standard Time: 1:10.20 Course/Class Record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Winner: JAZZ STEED (AUS 7yo g Exceed And Excel - Emotional Circus) exited the machine cleanly from gate two and settled one off the fence in third last after traveling 400m. Got into a nice rhythm in the middle stages without spending a penny in the run. Managed to push clear with 300m to go and let down with a withering burst to savage the line late and win going away from them. Made it a running double to start the card for jockey Ho.
Runner-Up: UNIVERSAL CROWN slightly missed the kick from the inside alley and settled just in front of the eventual winner on the fence during the run. Pinched a few positions along the rails and scraped the paint all the way down the home stretch to just go under. Ferraris couldn't have down much more in the saddle.
Run Of The Race: TRAVEL GLORY was forced to go back to last from barrier 11, but was really strong late to finish a fast-closing fourth. Goes close to winning if he draws a better marble.
Disappointment: FORTUNE HERO and SHENRON were both well-found in betting but finished finished last and second last respectively.
Comparison: Bang on standard which adds even further merit to the run of Travel Glory.
Market Movers: FORTUNE HERO $8.1 to $5.8 and TRAVEL GLORY $32 to $18.
RACE – 3 NAKAYAMA HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.57 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class Record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Winner: LESLIE (AUS 4yo g Shooting To Win - We Can Dance) left the barriers on terms with them and was given a bit of a squeeze to settle one-out one-back after traveling 400m. Bided his time when they dropped anchor in front, before easing into the clear with 300m to go and hit the lead a furlong out. Gave nothing else a chance over the closing stages to finally shed the maiden tag in impressive fashion. Could derive a stack of confidence from this victory and may go right on with the job now.
Runner-Up: KUNG FU TEA went back to second last from gate five early doors. Ended up getting on the back of the eventual winner as they turned but couldn't keep up with him when they lengthened. Certainly wasn't disgraced.
Run Of The Race: LESLIE was knocking on the door of a maiden victory last season and put them to the sword in this, Should be one to follow now with that win under the belt.
Disappointment: Newcomer JOY IN JOY jumped at $7.10 but finished last beaten more than 13 lengths.
Comparison: A touch inside standard in a well-rated steer by Leung.
Market Movers: KUNG FU TEA $18 to $14 and JOY IN JOY $8.6 to $7.1 (taking into account the late scratching of Young Horizon).
RACE – 4 CHUKYO HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf – Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:49.01 Standard Time: 1:49.60 Course/Class Record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
Winner: CIRCUIT ELITE (IRE 4yo g Mastercraftsman - Bridge Note) jumped straight to the front from the inside stall and managed to steady them up in the lead as they left the straight for the first time. Got into an even tempo along the back before being given a rev-up when they turned for home. Kept going under heavy riding by Chung and held off all comers to fall over the line. He wouldn't have wanted it any further.
Runner-Up: CHATER PINS got onto the fence from gate six but was shuffled rearward to sit in the back half of the field. Got going down the middle of the track late, but the bird had flown.
Run Of The Race: PERFECT TO GREAT had to go back from stall 11, but pulled to the outside in the straight and hit the line with gusto, albeit waywardly. A maiden win is imminent. CHATER PINS was equally solid.
Disappointment: No real disappointments as you could throw a blanket over the favoured runners at the finish.
Comparison: Slightly quicker than standard with Chung getting the job done in front.
Market Mover: SMILING TIME $16 to $7.
RACE – 5 NAKAYAMA HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.62 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class Record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Winner: SAVVY CHIC (AUS 4yo g Capitalist - Slumber Party) pinged straight to the front from gate six and came right back underneath De Sousa in a great piece of riding. Was given a breather through the middle going before being clicked up with 300m to go. Appeared to be getting overhauled at the 150m mark but lifted off the canvas late to to end up winning with authority. Showed plenty of intestinal fortitude at the finish.
Runner-Up: COLONEL was driven out of the barriers from gate nine by McNeil and managed to sit outside the leader, and eventual winner, as they settled into their work. Looked to have Savvy Chic's measure over the final furlong, but just couldn't get his nose in front. Is improving with racing this campaign.
Run Of The Race: We'll rename this "Ride Of The Race" with De Sousa giving them a lesson in front.
Disappointment: GOLD GOLD BABY drifted from $1.6 to $2 pre-race and couldn't make up much ground on the leading pair.
Comparison: A touch inside standard with the two frontrunners getting the quinella.
Market Movers: HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE $6.7 to $4.9. HARDLY SWEARS $16 to $10. COLONEL $17 to $10.
RACE – 6 THE JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY (HANDICAP), HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.80 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: GOLD MARQUIS (NZ 5yo g Darci Brahma - Cate Moss) was given an easy time out of the stalls and finished up mid-field on his own trailing the leading pack. Got into a beautiful rhythm for Chadwick throughout the middle stages before being asked for an ultimate effort as they straightened up. Pinched a break as the second horse was trying to get into his work, and the ride was the difference on the line.
Runner-Up: GALLANT WAKING was snagged back to last from the outside barrier, before stealing a few positions along the fence and pushing through in between horses upon turning. Was held up at the 200m mark, but eventually got clear and was doing his best work late. Has really hit his straps this preparation.
Run Of The Race: GALLANT WAKING had no favours from the widest marble, but hit the line with purpose and certainly won't lose many fans.
Disappointment: No real disappointment with the favoured runners all hitting the frame.
Comparison: Well inside standard with it almost being a class record.
Market Movers: CALIFORNIA CONCORD $9.1 to $5.8. WIND N GRASS $21 to $16.
RACE – 7 KYOTO HANDICAP, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.51 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: EXCELLENT PEERS (NZ 5yo g Jimmy Choux - Lunar Eclipse) was given a rev-up from gate seven and found himself three-wide no cover eventually pushing forward to sit outside the leader. Was asked for a final effort at the furlong marker and really knuckled down late under heavy riding. Had to burn the candle at both ends and has now made it four wins and three seconds from his past seven starts. Brought up a race-to-race double for Chadwick.
Runner-Up: NAMJONG SINGS jumped mid-field and stole a few runs up along the fence to settle fifth before the turn. Tracked the winner into the straight but was outsprinted and only made some headway over the last few hops. Might be looking for further now.
Run Of The Race: Hard to take much away from the winner but OUR LUCKY GLORY was reefed back to last from gate 10 and could barely keep up in the early stages. Looked to be under the pump 200m from home but kept applying himself over the final part and is another that may be wanting longer.
Disappointment: Race favourite BEAUTY GLORY missed the kick by two lengths from gate one and that made the task extremely difficult from the outset.
Comparison: A touch inside standard on a track playing fast.
Market Mover: COMPASSION SPIRIT $31 to $21.
RACE – 8 TOKYO HANDICAP, HK $2,900,000
Class 2 - Rating 100-80 Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.35 Standard Time: 1:39.40 Course/Class Record: 1:37.97 Tsar
Winner: PACKING AWARD (AUS 5yo g Shamus Award - Exchanges) jumped with them from gate four and settled two pairs back, one-off the fence as they left the straight the first time. Traveled mid-field and let Everyone's Delight go around him three-wide with 800m to go. Pushed up in between runners as they flattened out and took a minute to balance up before setting after them strongly late. A nicely balanced ride by Poon to hit the line hard.
Runner-Up: MR ASCENDENCY left the machine well from barrier five and got into a perfect spot for McNeil one-out one-back once they found their positions. Lifted over the final furlong but was just nutted on the post. Another win is not far away.
Run Of The Race: TIANCHI MONSTER jumped at the prohibitive odds of $55 and was last on the fence with 500m to go. Had a wall of horses in front of him when they headed for home but flew home through the centre of the pack and may be ready for the 1800m now.
Disappointment: FA FA failed to flatter despite being well in the market.
Comparison: Over a second inside standard on a red-hot surface.
Market Movers: CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT $37 to $23. EVERYONE'S DELIGHT $27 to $14. MR ASCENDENCY $8.1 to $5.8.
RACE – 9 HANSHIN HANDICAP, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 - Rating 80-60 Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.04 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class Record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Winner: WINNING DRAGON (CHI 5yo g Ivan Denisovich - Perdoname) showed plenty of early speed out of the gates then took a sit one-out one-back once they traveled into the back straight. Was given a bit of a spell during the middle section before pulling out to the centre of the track and hitting the front with 200m to go. Had enough in the tank to hold off a wall of horses in another Happy Valley blanket go. Posts his first win here in a well-deserved victory for Ferraris.
Runner-Up: PEGASUS GENERAL settled mid-field on the fence and put his head on the chest during the run. Managed to get a split over the final section but was no match for the winner. A much improved effort from the son of Vettori who started at a $60 quote and may have turned the corner now.
Run Of The Race: Hard to pick out a standout with only two lengths covering the first 10 runners home.
Disappointment: E LEGEND was truckloaded late in betting but was a little one-paced into seventh.
Comparison: Again much slicker than standard, as were all races on the nine-race program.
Market Movers: AMAZING ONE PLUS $26 to $17. E LEGEND $5 to $3.40.
