Arm Runda enters Hong Kong Challenge Cup on the rise

Arm Runda won back-to-back Happy Valley Class 4 handicaps during the 2016-2017 Hong Kong racing season, and he will try to win his second straight Happy Valley Class 3 in the $167,444 Hong Kong Challenge Cup on Wednesday night.

The sixth of eight races on the Happy Valley card, the Hong Kong Challenge Cup, contested around one turn at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), is among three Class 3's that close the program.

The field of 12 includes two horses up five points in official ratings following a win, Fairy Twins and Arm Runda. Fairy Twins carries top weight of 131 pounds while Arm Runda is up to 127 after winning at the same level and distance Dec. 20 at Happy Valley under 121 pounds. Stalking the pace from mid-pack while always traveling well under Oliver Deleuze, who rides again Wednesday, Arm Runda used a 22.72 second 400 meters to reach contention, then finished off his rivals with a final 400 in a very solid 22.58.

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Arm Runda was slow to find his form this season for trainer John Size, but also took several starts to reach his best a year ago, then won consecutive races last February and March.

Top-weighted Fairy Twins finished even faster, getting his final 400 in 22.10 in his last win, but carries more weight Wednesday than Arm Runda, who got a faster final 800 than did Fairy Twins.

Powermax appeared to be rounding into his best form until a move from Happy Valley to Sha Tin halted his upward trajectory. Powermax had run all his Hong Kong races at Happy Valley before that start and, jockey Neil Callan told Hong Kong Jockey Club publicity, was uncomfortable on the larger oval over which races unfold with a different dynamic than at Happy Valley.

The Hong Kong Challenge Cup is followed by the Chater Handicap over 1,650 meters, race 7, and the Club Street Handicap, another Class 3 over 1,200 meters. First post for the card is 7:15 a.m. Eastern.