This week’s Hong Kong racing:
9/22 Wednesday ~ Happy Valley: post time 7:15am EDT, 8 races
9/26 Sunday (Saturday night) ~ Sha Tin: post time 1am EDT, 10 races
Declan Schuster’s HAPPY VALLEY Analysis
(Wednesday, September 22, 2021)
Race 1: #5 Fast Pace, #1 Murray’s Partners, #2 Methane, #6 Red Elysees
Race 2: #7 Stay Chill, #5 Red Majesty, #2 Savvy Kingman, #9 Run The Table
Race 3: #7 Anonyma, #3 Ka Fortune, #1 All Joyful, #9 Wonderful Tiger
Race 4: #5 Momentum Galaxy, #2 Party Warrior, #3 Ka Ying Spirit, #8 Cheval Valiant
Race 5: #8 Winning Steed, #10 A Smile Like Yours, #5 All Beauty, #2 Joyful Win
Race 6: #6 Harmony N Blessed, #7 Heart Conquered, #1 Flying Genius, #5 Gunnison
Race 7: #11 Meaningful Star, #2 Vincy, #8 Superbella, #3 Xiang Bai Qi
Race 8: #5 Transcendent, #4 Quadruple Double, #1 Decisive Twelve, #3 Mighty Valor
Race 1: Perkins Handicap
#5 Fast Pace rates as the one they all have to beat, especially with race-fitness on his side. He’s had two runs this term and from gate one with Joao Moreira engaged, he is the one they all have to run down. #1 Murray’s Partners strung four wins across five starts in the second half of 2020. The step down to Class 4 suits and he’s right in this, especially with familiar ally Karis Teetan in the plate. #2 Methane is consistent and deserves respect in the small field. #6 Red Elysees is next best.
Race 2: Moreton Handicap
#7 Stay Chill gets out to a suitable trip here. Gate five gives him his chance and it wouldn’t surprise to see him drastically improve. #5 Red Majesty collected a hat-trick of wins at his final three outings of last term. He’s returned in good order and he gets another chance here in Class 4. #2 Savvy Kingman has a touch of class about him. Suspect he still has a number of rating points to climb. #9 Run The Table steps up to a proper distance. He has a nice pull in the handicap with only 117lb allotted.
Race 3: Price Handicap
#7 Anonyma could roll forward and pinch this. He’s not overly talented but with a race run to suit out in front, he could take plenty of catching. #3 Ka Fortune won well last start and bears close watching for the noteworthy O’Sullivan/Purton combination. #1 All Joyful mixes his form but the ability is definitely there. He can mount a challenge should the wide draw not prove problematic. #9 Wonderful Tiger is next best. He could get a sweet run throughout from gate seven.
Race 4: Henderson Handicap
#5 Momentum Galaxy won first-up last term and he looks well placed resuming off the back of an eye-catching trial. Conditions suit and he’s the one to beat. #2 Party Warrior has had three starts for three second placings. He’s come to hand nicely and his recent form suggests he’ll be a player once again. #3 Ka Ying Spirit scored nicely on debut. He looks to have come on nicely between seasons but he will need a few favours from gate nine. #8 Cheval Valiant closed off nicely last start. A hot tempo is ideal.
Race 5: Moorsom Handicap
Suspect #8 Winning Steed is a better sprinter than miler and he gets his chance first-up here. A stack of work has been done with this guy ahead of his resumption and from gate two with a nice running weight, he could give a bit of cheek. #10 A Smile Like Yours logged a tidy first-up effort. He slots in light and appears capable of the improvement required to win. #5 All Beauty has ability and the booking of Zac Purton bears close watching. Don’t discount, these two ran well together last term. #2 Joyful Win has claims.
Race 6: Clementi Handicap
#6 Harmony N Blessed can roll to the front and dictate this contest. Gate three affords him every chance and from there he may prove difficult to reel in, especially with Zac Purton engaged. #7 Heart Conquered maps to go forward too. He kept on gamely for second last start and a repeat of that run has him right in contention. #1 Flying Genius can make his presence felt in Class 3. #5 Gunnison mixes his form and is getting on in age but his best has him running on strongly.
Race 7: Creasy Handicap
#11 Meaningful Star looks well placed to go one better here. He’s had the benefit of one run already this season and from gate five he should get the right run. #2 Vincy mixes his form but he has a bit of a class-edge on his rivals here. He could run a race here first-up for the new stable. #8 Superbella is a two-time winner from his last three runs. He owns a slick personal best over this course and distance. #3 Xiang Bai Qi finished off last season in brilliant form with two wins. He has claims here for the Ferraris duo.
Race 8: Cooper Handicap
A bit of pace here should help #5 Transcendent. He closed off impressively last start and if he gets his chance, he has a powerful turn-of-foot when called upon. #4 Quadruple Double draws well after narrowly missing last start. It wouldn’t surprise to see him go one better here. #1 Decisive Twelve is the likely leader. He scored handily last start and he’ll get his chance again out in front. #3 Mighty Valor is expected to roll forward. He’s next best.
Andrew Le Jeune:
R1: 1-5-2-8
R2: 5-9-2-1
R3: 3-7-6-4
R4: 2-3-5-6
R5: 3-10-4-1
R6: 7-6-2-3
R7: 3-7-8-1
R8: 4-1-7-5
Best: R1 N1 Murray’s Partners
Each/way: R5 N3 Aurora Pegasus
Play: R5 Q/QP 3-4-10
Paul Lally:
R1 1-2-5-8
R2 2-5-1-9
R3 2-3-10-4
R4 2-9-3-4
R5 5-4-10-1
R6 6-2-3-7
R7 7-8-3-11
R8 1-4-2-8
Best Bet R8 N1 Decisive Twelve
Longshot R7 N7 Indicative Vote
Play QQP 1-4-2
Tom Wood:
R1: 1-5-2-8
R2: 2-5-8-9
R3: 3-2-4-7
R4: 2-3-7-5
R5: 8-4-5-2
R6: 3-2-6-7
R7: 4-11-8-1
R8: 1-3-4-5
BEST: R4 N2 PARTY WARRIOR (WIN)
VALUE: R5 N8 WINNING STEED (EW)
PLAY: R4 QQP 2,3,7
