Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Wednesday, September 5, 2018

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, September 5, 2018)

RACE 1: #3 My Blessing, #6 Celebration, #4 Mi Blanco, #8 Eastern Prowess

RACE 2: #3 Showing Character, #8 Snowhooves, #2 Rookie Star, #5 Young Dreamer

RACE 3: #2 Mr Right, #5 Country Star, #8 Pearly Treasure, #10 Raichu

RACE 4: #4 Bundle Of Energy, #8 Captain Boss, #10 Universal Go Go, #5 Flying Force

RACE 5: #1 King's Man, #4 All You Know, #8 The Sylph, #5 Starlit Knight

RACE 6: #3 Jumbo Happiness, #1 My Ally, #6 Harbour Alert, #11 Phantom Falcon

RACE 7: #8 Sky Melody, #2 Land Grant, #5 Happy Life, #7 Multigogo

RACE 8: #3 Fortune Booth, #2 Super Turbo, #5 Magic Legend, #11 Super Hoppy

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RACE 1: STANLEY HANDICAP

#3 My Blessing should push forward in this line-up under 10-pound claimer Victor Wong. He’s a two-time course and distance winner and, with no weight on his back, he gets his chance to score again here. #6 Celebration finished second to cap off last season. He’s still yet to win from 14 Hong Kong starts, but it appears that a victory is near and he gets new kid on the block Grant van Niekerk aboard, with the South African having scored a double at his first meeting on Sunday. He’s a chance. #4 Mi Blanco has trialled well and is another who looks close to a win. #8 Eastern Prowess can’t be overlooked with a raft of gear changes at his first start for Danny Shum.

RACE 2: SOUTH BAY HANDICAP

#3 Showing Character was favourite in an even field at his last start in July, finishing third over the Happy Valley 1000m. His two Hong Kong victories have come over this course and distance and, even from the awkward gate, he looks well placed to make it a third win. #8 Snowhooves found form after switching to the Chris So yard late last season. He still looks to have points in hand and he should get a dream run from gate one under Zac Purton. #2 Rookie Star is getting to a mark where he can prove competitive. He’s got a wide draw but, with blinkers on for the first time, he deserves respect. #5 Young Dreamer is not without claims.

RACE 3: MIDDLE BAY HANDICAP

#2 Mr Right enters this race as a six-time course and distance winner, with five further placings. Furthermore, his record in this grade at the Happy Valley 1000m reads five wins and three seconds from nine attempts. He has drawn an awkward gate but he can swoop home late. #5 Country Star is sure to have plenty of supporters at his first start. Touted by some as likely to be the next Price Bloodstock talent to watch, he steps out as an early season three-year-old against some hardy veterans. In a race that looks to have plenty of speed, he may be worth watching here with an eye to the future, rather than jumping in at too short a quote. Still, he’s a leading chance. #8 Pearly Treasure and #10 Raichu head the rest.

RACE 4: REPULSE BAY HANDICAP

#4 Bundle Of Energy didn’t show a lot in his first two starts before rattling home at his last start to finish third in July. He needs to back that up now but the booking of Zac Purton is a positive indicator and a big run can be expected against this line-up. #8 Captain Boss is another who found form at the end of last season, having beaten home a total of five horses at his first nine starts when starting at an average price of almost 270/1. Karis Teetan jumps aboard now and the signs are positive that he can begin to show a little more now. #10 Universal Go Go can come to hand quickly, while #5 Flying Force deserves respect at his first run for Danny Shum.

RACE 5: SHEK O HANDICAP

#1 King's Man doesn’t win out of turn but he looks well-placed in a race of this nature. He’s consistent enough and he is sure to be somewhere around the mark. #4 All You Know finished last season with a victory, one that looked on the horizon for quite some time. If he’s strengthened up during his time off the track, then there’s every chance he can work his way into Class 3 this term. #8 The Sylph is an infrequent winner, to say the least, with one victory from 45 starts. Still, if he finds his best on his current rating, then he’s not without a chance. #5 Starlit Knight is a place chance once more.

RACE 6: CHUNG HOM KOK HANDICAP

#3 Jumbo Happiness has a pedigree to excel at a mile, but injury curtailed his season last term and he only raced once at the trip for an inglorious 12th. He’s likely to be heading up to a mile again, but his runs at 1200m have been strong and he can win this fresh before eventually winning again this season over further. #1 My Ally only really produced one good run in Class 2, a third to boom youngster Hot King Prawn over this course and distance. The off-season readjustments mean that he starts in Class 3 and he can prove a strong contender in this grade. #6 Harbour Alert trialled like a star on the dirt, but that is par for the course for him and so often he has not reproduced that form on raceday. Still, he’s not without a hope here. #11 Phantom Falcon is a chance if he has progressed physically during the summer.

RACE 7: DEEP WATER BAY HANDICAP

#8 Sky Melody trialled the house down in preparation for this and he looks one to watch here. He showed glimpses of ability last term but couldn’t quite put it together, but if he is a more complete package now, he could rise through the ratings fairly quickly. #2 Land Grant looks a leading player once again, having run well in three runs with Victor Wong aboard last preparation. He only has 118 pounds on his back with the 10-pound claimer up and that’s a winnable weight. #5 Happy Life is one from one at the course and distance, but he has only raced once in the last 14 months due to injury – a fair effort at the end of last season. He’s worth including in this spot. #7 Multigogo will likely be up near the speed and should be in this for some way.

RACE 8: BIG WAVE BAY HANDICAP

#3 Fortune Booth was putting together a consistent body of form towards the end of last season. His last-start second to Gunnison, with California Fortune three lengths away, reads well for this and he should get a good run from gate one. He’s a contender. #2 Super Turbo drew awkwardly and is not the most reliable horse to follow. However, on his day, he has an electric turn of foot and he’s always shaped as a horse capable of getting his rating into triple figures. It wouldn’t surprise to see him make that leap this term. #5 Magic Legend didn’t progress as many expected last term, but he was running well enough towards the end of the season. Another good run fresh wouldn’t shock. #11 Super Hoppy looked every bit a Class 2 horse with his two late season wins and he deserves respect fresh.