Amazing One Plus right at home at Happy Valley

The irregularly shaped, undulating oval at Happy Valley Racecourse is not for every horse, but it might have been just what Amazing One Plus needed.

After two poor showings this Hong Kong season at Sha Tin Racecourse, Amazing One Plus made his Happy Valley debut on Oct. 14 and reversed his disappointing form. Last of 12 much of a one-lap, 1,650-meter Class 2 handicap, Amazing One Plus powered home to finish third while part of a win photo, making his 64-1 odds look silly.

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He’s back in another Class 2, for horses rated 100-80, that’s the last-race feature on a nine-race program Wednesday at Happy Valley. First post for the card is 6:45 a.m. Eastern. Live video and wagering is available at DRFBets.com.

Amazing One Plus stretches out to 1,800 meters Wednesday but the distance ought not be a problem since he won over 2,000 meters during the Irish phase of his career. Amazing One Plus made his Hong Kong debut last May rated 90, a pretty high mark for a Hong Kong newcomer, and ran well for second in his first local try, but then missed the rest of the last Hong Kong racing season and was a vet scratch from his intended first start this term on Sept. 6. What followed were the two duds at Sha Tin before Amazing One Plus, under Derek Leung – who rides again Wednesday – closed stoutly into a modest pace to fall just short of victory in a race in which front-runners finished one-two.

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Amazing One Plus, drawn in post 8, is just one of many chances in a typically well matched Hong Kong handicap. Top-rated Columbus County carries 132 pounds, giving his rivals as much as 16 pounds as he starts for the first time since July, and though he ended last season in strong form his current condition is difficult to read from a pair of training races in which he was permitted to do little real running.

Joao Moreira rides Columbus County for trainer Caspar Fownes, whose stable is off to a roaring start this Hong Kong season, while Moreira’s longtime Hong Kong rival, Zac Purton, sits on Reliable Team, rated 96 to Columbus County’s 97. Reliable Team appeared to tire last out in his lone race this season, is likely to improve, and has form from his 2019-20 campaign plenty strong to contend.

Star Shine has been a model of closing consistency but might not really want to run as far as 1,800 meters.