Declan Schuster's Hong Kong selections and analysis for Wednesday, January 22, 2020
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEHAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 22, 2020)
Race 1: #5 Victorious Seeker, #2 Garlic Yeah, #9 Wicker, #6 Reeve’s Muntjac
Race 2: #10 All Times Grateful, #9 Focus, #5 Diamond Star, #3 Noble Desire
Race 3: #8 This Is Charisma, #2 Confucius Day, #9 California Rad, #4 Shamport
Race 4: #3 Let’s Take It Easy, #8 Royal Racer, #2 Flash Famous, #5 Enjoy Life
Race 5: #7 Dr Proactive, #10 Island Winner, #8 Smart Of Youth, #9 Super Winner
Race 6: #5 Bright Kid, #7 Righteous Mate, #9 After Me, #4 Dor Dor
Race 7: #8 Zhan Jiang Rocks, #7 Har Har Heart, #2 Racing Luck, #10 Kiram
Race 8: #11 This Is Class, #7 Beauty Spark, #10 Starlight, #4 Baltic Success
Race 9: #4 Winning Method, #3 Quadruple Double, #11 Relentless Me, #9 Green Reign
Race 1: Yue Man Handicap (2200m)
#5 Victorious Seeker has shown steady improvement across three outings this season. He finished second over 1800m at Sha Tin last start, a performance that was full of merit and showed that day he was ready to step up to 2200m. #2 Garlic Yeah is a course and distance winner previously with Zac Purton engaged who returns to the saddle here. He should be fit with seven runs under his belt already this term and this race appears well within his reach. #9 Wicker made all impressively at Sha Tin two starts ago. He’ll make his own luck out in front and find himself in the finish. #6 Reeve’s Muntjac is next best.
Race 2: Shing Yip Handicap (2nd Section) (1200m)
#10 All Times Grateful gets the services of Zac Purton for the first time at just his fourth appearance. He turned his form around to grab third last time and out and if he’s held his condition since then, he’s going to be hard to beat. #9 Focus steps out again for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. He’ll need to overcome the awkward draw but if he can he’s a chance of bouncing back. #5 Diamond Star steps out on debut for John Size who is fresh off a G1 double on Sunday. #3 Noble Desire finished seventh on debut. He’s open to natural improvement and the inside draw will afford him every opportunity.
Race 3: Shing Yip Handicap (1st Section) (1200m)
#8 This Is Charisma turned his form around last start to grab a narrow fourth over this course and distance. He can steadily improve again and with the in-form Jack Wong taking the reins, he could prove difficult to reel in. #2 Confucius Day was game in defeat last start. He’s likely to roll forward again with Alfred Chan engaged who takes 10lb off his back. #9 California Rad has shown plenty of early ability. Tony Piccone remains aboard after last start’s slashing third and he’s another who will find himself up on the pace early. #4 Shamport won first-up over this course and distance. He warrants respect.
Race 4: Wai Yip Handicap (2nd Section) (1650m)
#3 Let’s Take It Easy ran a blinder last start, sticking on for a narrow one length defeat over this course and distance. He’s done enough racing this season to suggest that a win is nearing and the return to Class 4 has done nothing but benefit him. #8 Royal Racer does his best racing over this course and distance. He’s down in the weights and he should be thereabouts under Vincent Ho. #2 Flash Famous notched up back-to-back wins earlier this season. He’s held his condition nicely and he should get every opportunity under Joao Moreira. #5 Enjoy Life turned his form around with the blinkers applied last start. They remain on here and further improvement is expected.
Race 5: Mut Wah Handicap (1000m)
#7 Dr Proactive has shown significant improvement this campaign, catching the eye in his latest with an impressive fourth. He can progress further here for Jack Wong and from the good gate he should be afforded every opportunity up on the pace. #10 Island Winner got off the mark two starts ago. Still, he was far from disgraced grabbing third last time out and he remains a winning chance. #8 Smart Of Youth has been well respected in the market at both of his outings. There is clearly a strong opinion of this galloper and although he hasn't set the world alight, he could be ready improve again as he acclimatises and the booking of Joao Moreira warrants respect. #9 Super Winner is racing well. He gets the shadow roll on for the first time to sharpen him up and he’s drawn to get the gun run on the rail for Karis Teetan.
Race 6: Wai Yip Handicap (1st Section) (1650m)
#5 Bright Kid has been consistent without winning all season and although he’s drawn poorly, he doesn't appear to have struck an overly strong race and this might be his turn to go on with it. #7 Righteous Mate is a winner already this season. He can build on that tally here, although, he’ll need a race run to suit if he is expected to come from the tail of the field again. #9 After Me is the one who is likely to inject the pace. Expect he rolls forward here under Alfred Chand and his 10lb claim, which will see him carry the featherweight 110lb. #4 Dor Dor is in-form and he steps out for Joao Moreira and John Size here, the pair, fresh off a Sunday G1 double. He’ll be thereabouts.
Race 7: Hung To Handicap (1650m)
#8 Zhan Jiang Rocks has hit his straps of late, placing in his last four which does include a win two starts ago over this course and distance. He’s in-form and the inside draw will give him every chance to end Chris So’s lengthy drought without a win, last coming on 4 December, 2019 thanks to this galloper. #7 Har Har Heart has been far from disgraced this season. His last win came with Silvestre de Sousa in the plate and he just might have returned to a competitive mark. #2 Racing Luck is in-form and if he can overcome the awkward draw he’ll find himself in the finish. #10 Kiram gets the services of Lyle Hewitson again. This is his preferred course and distance and if he finds his best he’ll be thereabouts.
Race 8: Hoi Yuen Handicap (1st Section) (1200m)
#11 This Is Class hit a purple patch of form at the tail end of last season, winning two of his last three and finishing runner-up in the other. He’s since trialled soundly in the lead-up to his seasonal return and if he can overcome the wide gate, he could prove tough to reel in. #7 Beauty Spark could roll forward and lead for Alfred Chan and his 10lb claim. He’s drawn to find the front without expending too much energy and he appears capable of pinching this. #10 Starlight is racing well. He’ll be thereabouts for Dennis Yip. #4 Baltic Success has mixed his form but his runner-up effort at his second start rates highly for this.
Race 9: Hoi Yuen Handicap (2nd Section) (1200m)
#4 Winning Method bounced back to winning ways last start, making all ahead of Snap Fit in what was a strong form race. Expect he’ll roll forward again here for Zac Purton and he appears to have a number of ratings points still in hand. #3 Quadruple Double is a three-time winner already this season. He rarely runs a bad race and if he can settle up on the pace, he’s going to be in the finish. #11 Relentless Me is another who will roll forward to ensure this is run at a genuine tempo. Joao Moreira returns to the saddle here and as a winner already aboard him this season, the booking warrants respect. #9 Green Reign might be ready to improve now with two runs under his belt.