The first contest of the day at Happy Valley is a handicap over six furlongs and the horse we like the look of is Gintoki who sees leading rider Zac Purton take the ride.
The five year old doesn't post the best record in Hong Kong with no win in 13 runs to dat but what he showed last time out on his first run for six months was eye-catching.
Over course and distance the gelding finished a staying on fifth and now with the master rider on board he should go one better.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/10/20 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-7 | 7 |
| 01/10/20 | SHA | 6 | Gd | 8-7 | 2 |
| 20/05/20 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-11 | 12 |
| 22/04/20 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-11 | 4 |
| 27/11/19 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-8 | 9 |
The Class 4 Tan Shan River Handicap is a very tricky race to call over nine furlongs but we are looking for a quick-fire double with Zac Purton.
He gets the mount on Dionysus Collin who offers the best form heading into the contest with six places in his last eight runs.
Although none of these have been wins, he has been knocking on the door on most of his races in the last six months and with good performances over course and distances previously he is the one to watch.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/01/22 | HAP | 9 | Gd | 9-7 | 10 |
| 15/12/21 | HAP | 9 | Gd | 8-4 | 11 |
| 17/11/21 | HAP | 9 | Gd | 8-1 | 12 |
| 27/10/21 | SHA | 9 | St | 8-2 | 10 |
| 06/10/21 | HAP | 9 | Gd | 8-2 | 3 |
The consistent Blooming Spirit goes for us in the next contest and the four year old loves racing over course and distance at Happy Valley, having not finished outside of the top three on all four runs this year.
Back in January he started the year with a decent win at Happy Valley and after going up five pounds he still managed to finish a respectable third.
He went up another pound and defied his weight to score again over course and distance and having improved again he was second last time out and should go well again.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/12/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-5 | 5 |
| 18/11/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-7 | 5 |
| 21/10/20 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 8-1 | 11 |
| 23/09/20 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 8-12 | 10 |
| 08/07/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-3 | 7 |
Back to another sprint contest and this time over five furlongs and Flying Genius looks a very speedy type that has been knocking on the door of late.
The three year old gets the mount of Karis Teetan ,that behind Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, is the one of the best jockeys on the circuit.
Flying Genius has been in the frame of three of his last four runs in Hong Kong, finishing second on all of those occasions and that looks the best form on offer.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/01/22 | SHA | 5 | Gd | 8-11 | 8 |
| 18/12/21 | SHA | 6 | St | 8-10 | 10 |
| 01/12/21 | HAP | 5 | Gd | 8-13 | 5 |
| 07/11/21 | SHA | 5 | Gd | 9-2 | 7 |
| 20/10/21 | HAP | 5 | GF | 9-7 | 11 |
The top weighted Ares looks a very likeable three year old who loves it over six furlongs at Happy Valley and with that in mind he should go well again if dealing with the rise in weight.
The gelding has raced twice times this year, winning nicely over course and distance in February and then backing that up in March with a second.
He has gone up seven pounds since his win and we believe he is still on a feasible mark to give another good showing.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/06/22 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-7 | 2 |
| 25/05/22 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-5 | 2 |
| 04/05/22 | SHA | 6 | St | 8-4 | 12 |
| 13/04/22 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-5 | 12 |
| 30/03/22 | SHA | 6 | St | 8-7 | 7 |
Simply Fluke has shown what he has done this season has been no fluke having not finished outside of the top three on his last five outings.
Three of those runs came over course and distance at Happy Valley where he finished second in January and since then has won back to back races.
He heads into this contest in search of a hat-trick having joined his new yard with Douglas Whyte and being superb.
He was drawn wide last time out and still go the job done which does not scare us away with another wide draw.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/02/22 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-4 | 9 |
| 19/01/22 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-4 | 6 |
| 12/01/22 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-6 | 3 |
| 17/11/21 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-3 | 10 |
| 20/10/21 | HAP | 6 | GF | 9-3 | 4 |
The Class 3 Nam Chung River Handicap looks a hot contest and Brave King for Douglas Whyte is our selection having improved for the step up in trip recently.
The four year old gave his best effort to date when a decent fourth over course and distance last time out and going off the same weight with a decent draw should see him in the mix again.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/06/21 | SHA | 8 | GF | 8-13 | 7 |
| 23/05/21 | SHA | 8 | GF | 8-13 | 5 |
| 21/04/21 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 9-4 | 10 |
| 17/03/21 | HAP | 9 | GF | 9-5 | 12 |
| 24/02/21 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 9-6 | 5 |
The penultimate race of the afternoon sees another six furlong handicap and Beauty Spark is the most consistent runner in the field.
He was a superb course and distance winner last month and he since has backed that up with a good second with it looking like the faster the ground the better he is.
In his last seven races over course and distance he has never finished outside of the top three and having no luck in running most of the time he is due some luck.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/02/21 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-10 | 8 |
| 27/01/21 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-8 | 7 |
| 06/01/21 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-6 | 11 |
| 09/12/20 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-12 | 8 |
| 18/11/20 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-3 | 2 |
The final race of the afternoon in Hong Kong sees Shining Ace go for us and being joined by Joao Moreira makes him very likeable.
This four year old is a very progressive gelding, who is also ultra consistent having only finished outside the placings on four of his last 18 races over course and distance.
He knows how to win and having been drawn nicely on Wednesday he can not be overlooked.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/09/21 | SHA | 6 | Gd | 8-3 | 8 |
| 11/07/21 | SHA | 6 | GF | 8-3 | 3 |
| 26/06/21 | SHA | 6 | Gd | 9-0 | 2 |
| 09/06/21 | HAP | 5 | Gd | 8-11 | 2 |
| 16/05/21 | SHA | 5 | GF | 8-13 | 11 |
