Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Wednesday's Happy Valley card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Doubles all round as Zac closes in
The human stories from a significant Sha Tin Sunday are easily told.
Zac Purton rode a double and needs to ring the bell just six more times to beat Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 winners.
Fellow Aussies Brenton Avdulla and John Size were also in double form along with Chris So and Ricky Yiu but assessing the equine winners and losers from several Classic trials is far more problematic.
Ruby shines as Packing catches Purton’s eye
Rubylot (Avdulla) and gambled-on Young Champion (Purton) found smooth sailing from stalls 2 and 3 to fight out a tight finish to the featured Racing Club Cup.
However, Johannes Brahms and Packing Hermod did very well to fill the frame after tougher trips from wider gates with Divano another to meet notable trouble in eighth.
Purton was impressed with the way Packing Hermod charged home to record the fastest closer of the day (22.38s) and has moved swiftly to announce that he will be back aboard in the Classic Mile.
Francis Lui’s gelding is rated 93 heading into the January 31st showpiece, level with Rubylot, but the suspicion remains that tempo and track position will play a key part again in the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Luckless Mickley remains a name to note
The steadily-run Pak Shek Au Handicap was another race that posed almost as many Classic Mile questions as it answered.
Dragon Joy swooped late under Matthew Poon to land a gamble for Yiu but he’s odds against to get into the big one and unlikely to confirm the form with several of those he beat even if he does.
Markwin failed to justify strong support in being nabbed close home but the 83-rated Mickley was the one who caught the eye again, beaten little over a length in sixth conceding 20lb and 10lb to the first two.
A tendency to get well back is becoming a concern for last year’s Britannia winner but he’s much better than his last two runs suggest and an entry in a Class 2 over the Derby trip of 2000m this Sunday suggests that the canny Size is keen to test him again quickly.
All Whyte on another Purton night?
It’s asking a lot for Purton to threaten the Whyte record at Happy Valley this Wednesday – even if he did hit six there over Christmas - but it’s not unreasonable to approach the nine-race card using a ‘with or against Zac’ mentality.
Douglas’s UK import Me Time landed a Valley Class 5 with Purton aboard for the first time in November and looked a bit unlucky upped to Class 4 under Alexis Badel last time, short of room late when staying on strongly.
But it’s important to note that Me Time seemed well suited by coming from well back in a race run at a fast pace that night.
He’s clearly in good heart but so are several others and the consistent Charity Gain is a viable option at longer odds with Bowman first time.
Spirits rising for Chadwick?
Purton is 3-4 aboard Bottomuptogether and the fact that the champion is back aboard this fiery front runner in the Jackson Handicap (12.10) won’t be missed by the market.
Frankie Lor’s gelding returns to the minimum trip after several good efforts in hot contests at Sha Tin and Purton feels the Valley will pose him no problems.
But the man Zac has replaced on Bottomuptogether can have a say at longer odds in this £300,000 handicap.
Matt Chadwick’s ability to ride at 115lb has earned him the call for YOUGHTFUL SPIRITS and Mark Newnham’s gelding has revived of late, showing fine speed until nailed close home in a decent Class 3 last time.
The first 600m will be vital. Chadwick needs to strike a fine balance – using his mount’s early aggression without going too hard – but Youthful Spirits is fairly treated off 75 and looks a decent win and place option in a tough race.
Pray to have his day?
Purton’s perennial pulling power has proved costly again for Chadwick in the Chater Handicap at 2.15 and PRAY FOR MIR looks a very interesting Valley debutant.
There’s a fair chance Cody Mo is running this gelding here in the hope of earning a rise in the weights to book a Classic Mile place.
Either way, Pray For Mir has created a good impression of late, most recently when setting a solid pace and battling on willingly until worn down by the gambled-on Californiatotality over 1800m on HKIR day.
The winner and third from that race have both franked the form and Pray For Mir’s keen style should lend itself well to the Valley. Add in a good draw (3) and Purton’s poise and he clearly has plenty in his favour here.
Aurora to shine bright?
Purton’s mounts tend to contract in price if he already has winners on the board and that factor could come into play again for two bang-in-form sprinters in the latter section of Wednesday’s card.
Northern Fire Ball and Aurora Lady were part of the Aussie’s spectacular Boxing Day six timer, the former making all for a handy Class 4 win and the latter surging clear then holding a late charge from the progressive Beauty Destiny as the pair dominated a strong Class 3.
Purton feels Aurora Lady “hasn’t hit his ceiling” despite a 7lb hike. I suspect he might be proved right in the Connaught Handicap at 2.50, though Chateauneuf and Flying Fortress are worth noting for Quinella hunters.
Northern Fire Ball has been raised 8lb ahead of the Club Handicap at 1.45. Super Charizzard is up by the same amount for a smooth win on the same card but Northern Fire Ball clocked a faster time (admittedly carrying 7lb less) and looks the one to beat again.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
12.10: Youthful Spirits (EW)
1.45: Northern Fire Ball
2.15: Pray For Mir
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