Healthy Happy seeks Group 3 Celebration Cup repeat

by Declan Schuster

This season’s Group racing gets underway at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 September) with the running of the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m), where game veteran Healthy Happy is aiming for a second straight win in the HK$4.2 million feature.

One of seven entries for the race, Healthy Happy scooped last year’s prize first-up from out in front against five rivals as the race’s longest odds chance. Trainer Frankie Lor has prepared the eight-year-old – who has five wins in Hong Kong – with a pair of trials at Conghua.

“He’s fresh. Usually in his first start every season he runs well. Matthew Chadwick is on this weekend,” Lor said.

Healthy Happy has banked HK$22.02 million for connections. His biggest wins came in the 2021 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), 2022 G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) and this race last year.

Healthy Happy’s two trials at Conghua have been on turf over 1200m, clocking 1m 11.33s (29 August) and 1m 10.92s (13 September).

“I hope he can run good. He’s done well across his career. I’ll look for more 1400 metre races after this one – it’s his best distance,” Lor said.

Taj Dragon, Flying Ace, Packing Treadmill, The Golden Scenery, Chiu Chow Spirit and Wonder Kit also hold entries for Sunday’s contest. Taj Dragon is the only other Group 3 winner in the race having claimed the 2024 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at Sha Tin.

The improving Chiu Chow Spirit won first-up this season by nearly two lengths under Alexis Badel, who will ride the Manfred Man-trained gelding again this weekend.

Lor saddles seven runners at Happy Valley’s midweek fixture on Wednesday (18 September), including the in-form Flamingo Trillion (116lb) in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Deep Water Bay Handicap (1650m).

“He always gets an outside draw (barrier nine). 1650 metres with an outside draw is not easy. A few horses in this race are quite fast and if you keep chasing them, he might be wide on the first turn. Maybe, we’ll take a sit, hopefully they go too fast and we can come from behind,” Lor said.

The chestnut has won three out of his last four starts. He is yet to contest Class 2 racing.

Danny Shum has three entrants in the same race – Moments In Time (135lb), Helene Feeling (129lb) and Chill Chibi (121lb).

Chill Chibi breaks from barrier four under Jerry Chau. He will sport blinkers for the first time under race conditions tomorrow night.

“He’s good with the blinkers and he’s drawn well. If he can stay midfield, he can kick, and his trial was good. The blinkers can help,” Shum said. “Moments In Time also has a chance even with top-weight and an outside draw (10), we’ll leave it to Hugh Bowman.”

Capitalist gelding Savvy Chic won first-up last season at Happy Valley and Lor is aiming to repeat the dose when the six-year-old features in the first section of the Class 4 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1200m) under Bowman.

“His first and second starts are always good. He’s had a few problems, muscle problems, but I hope he can run a good race,” Lor said.

Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2021/22, Lor is also represented by Gimme Five, Triple Bliss, Gorgeous Vitality, Silver King and Excellent Peers at the city circuit.

Wednesday’s (18 September) eight-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 7.10pm with the second section of the Class 4 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1200m).