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J-Mac seals world crown as Gus and Goliath bow out

Sunday’s Japan Cup had several notable spinoffs for HK racing.

Auguste Rodin’s eclipse under Ryan Moore handed this year’s LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title to James McDonald, who rattled off his third consecutive double at Sha Tin on Sunday as he prepares to partner Romantic Warrior on HKIR day.

Danny Shum’s gelding continues to thrive ahead of his bid to become the first three-time HK Cup winner.

Fellow Derby winner Massive Sovereign will take him on next weekend after breezing clear in a Tuesday turf trial under Zac Purton but King George hero Goliath and German Derby winner Fantastic Moon will miss the HK Vase after failing to fire behind Do Deuce in Tokyo.

McDonald wasn’t the only rider to shine on Sunday as Derek Leung rattled off his first treble for well over a year – completed by Patch Of Theta in the Chevalier Cup – ahead of a series of careless riding bans that will see him miss most of December.

Second season handler Cody Mo matched Leung with the first treble of his training career and Englishman David Eustace extended a fine start to his first season in HK when the progressive Swift Ascend saluted for the second time this term under J-Mac.

Time to get back on the Chain gang

Rematches are a recurring theme at Happy Valley on Wednesday and, make no mistake, this nine-race card looks a very tricky one for punters.

That said, Eustace and Mo will both head across town with high hopes of keeping the ball rolling as CHARITY GAIN and CHAIN OF GOLD both have a fair amount to recommend them.

Chain Of Gold is a likeable and consistent Class 3 performer who ran his best race yet for Mo when collared late by Winning Steps (with Rocket Spade and Illuminous third and fourth) over course and distance three weeks ago.

Winning Steps got all the favours that day – coming from well back in a strongly-run race – and a 4lb pull with Purton in the irons again makes Chain Of Gold the one to focus on in the concluding Inverness Handicap at 2.50.

Genuine stamina is a rare commodity in a lot of HK horses but Charity Gain showed he has plenty of that quality when forging clear of Class 4 rivals over 1800m at the Valley in October.

A subsequent Sha Tin third over 2000m at Sha reads well enough on paper but that effort can be upgraded.

Charity Gain was one of several who met trouble in a messy race that day (Management Folks was another) and a clear run over an extra 200m in the Ben Nevis Handicap at 12.10 should make him a danger to all.

Inside gate makes perfect sense for Allgreektome

Worries about a high draw cost me a Caspar Fownes winner when Sky Trust landed Sunday’s Sha Tin nightcap and the same dilemma presents itself when Glory Cloud contests the St Andrew’s Challenge Quaich at 12.40.

This gelding has found a very winnable Class 4 after being short headed last time but stall 9 isn’t ideal and Gimme Five (drawn 3 under Vincent Ho) is a viable option if back to the form he showed when splitting a pair who’ve scored again last month.

The mercurial Beauty Destiny did the File a favour at the Valley last time out – and the horse he pipped has won since – but he’s another drawn 9 and the lightly-raced Racingrace is a potential improver against him in the Edinburgh Handicap at 1.45.

But Wednesday’s final selection comes in a fiercely competitive Loch Lomond Handicap (2.15) featuring a raft of horses who crossed swords at the Valley on October 27th.

Horsepower made a winning HK debut that night – storming home under a ride of rare Purton confidence – but stall 11 is a measly 1-58 over 1200m when the rail is out wide in recent years.

The freewheeling ALLGREEKTOME ran a belter to be beaten a neck that night, caught close home after working hard to snare the lead from gate 12, and the inside alley and a 5lb pull with Horsepower might just give him the edge under 7lb claimer Ellis Wong.

Wednesday’s Valley Views

• 12.10: Charity Gain
• 2.15: Allgreektome
• 2.50: Chain Of Gold

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