Hong Kong: Classic Unicorn picks up weight for Class 2 handicap at Happy Valley

Caught three paths wide into the far turn, Classic Unicorn had to work hard to make his way to the rail after breaking from post 10 in a Class 2 handicap on Oct. 10 at Happy Valley Racecourse. Didn’t matter, as Classic Unicorn rolled to a sharp victory anyway, and when he runs back in another Class 2, the featured race Wednesday at Happy Valley, finding the rail will pose no problem.

Classic Unicorn breaks from the fence and surely will put to use his ample early speed as he tries to win his second race in a row and third in his last four starts in the featured seventh race, carded for 1,000 meters and open to horses rated 100-80. Live video and wagering on this race and the card’s other seven is available at DRFBets.com. First post is 7:15 a.m. Eastern.

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Classic Unicorn’s 1 3/4-length win last out earned him an eight-point rating rise to 92 and requires him to carry 129 pounds, 10 more than on Oct. 7, but this tall, New Zealand-bred 5-year-old speedball has more upside than any of his nine rivals Wednesday. A strict 1,000-meter specialist, Classic Unicorn has raced only eight times, winning half his starts. His first start this Hong Kong season was the best of his career, and from the look of this gelding’s body type, he could be a late-maturing sort set to maintain this strong form, at least in the near term.

On the other hand, the outside-pressing trip, even accounting for ground loss around part of the turn, probably served Classic Unicorn well, and his chances Wednesday could hinge on how much pressure he takes from horses coming up on his left flank. Multimillion, who leaves from post 7, could prove the primary pace rival.

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If the speed combusts and flames out, top-rated Hong Kong Win or big ratings-riser Explosive Witness are the potential beneficiaries. Hong Kong Win, who tipped the scales this week at an imposing 1,222 pounds, was sixth behind Classic Unicorn on Oct. 7 while giving the winner 11 pounds and getting a worse trip. Hong Kong Win was caught in a tight spot at the back of the field into the turn and with the horse in front of him going nowhere had to wait too long to come out for a run. Classic Unicorn was long gone by the time Hong Kong Win unfurled his best stride and he finished with decent energy for sixth.

Back Nov. 1 in a straight-course 1,000-meter Class 2 at Sha Tin, Hong Kong Win showed better speed and hung around to finish a solid third. He might be sitting on a top race, though carrying top weight of 132 pounds does nothing to help his chances.

Explosive Witness lost his first nine Hong Kong starts before getting up to win a Class 3 over 1,000 meters in his final start of the 2019-2020 racing season. Back from a three-month layoff and carrying top weight of 133 pounds in the same kind of race last month at Happy Valley, Explosive Witness laid down a wicked 21.95-second final quarter-mile, going from 10th at the top of the relatively short Happy Valley stretch to win by a nose.

Up to Class 2 for the first time Wednesday, Explosive Witness totes 124 pounds and must find a way home from post 11.