Hong Kong: Harmony Victory follows similar path as last year to January Handicap

Harmony Victory rarely runs at Happy Valley, and stakes races rarely are run at Happy Valley, but the Group 3 January Handicap comes Wednesday night at Happy Valley and Harmony Victory appears to be in with a decent chance.

Harmony Victory finished fastest in the 2020 renewal of this 1,800-meter fixture, claiming second in his first Happy Valley start. He came back to the Valley six weeks later to score a flashy Class 1 handicap win and on Wednesday makes his first Happy Valley start since then. Harmony Victory has raced evenly and to modest effect in his first two starts of this Hong Kong racing season, both at Sha Tin, but trainer Clifford Shum has his charge on the same pattern, going from a 1,600-meter Sha Tin start in late November that produced the good January Cup showing a year ago.

Top-rated Time Warp, whose form has been awful this season, is sure to go to the front and supply ample pace, helping the cause of Harmony Victory and any of the other closing types. Other pace-pressers are present and a fair tempo seems assured.

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Harmony Victory must tote 129 pounds, 11 more than Glorious Dragon, who rates win consideration in the January. Glorious Dragon, like Harmony Victory, has a win and a second from his two Happy Valley starts, his victory coming last winter in a Class 2 handicap over 1,800 meters. He comes into Wednesday’s start after a 1,600-meter Sha Tin comeback run, his first race of the season, in which he broke from post 13. Zac Purton rode him for the first time in that race and is back for another try Wednesday, albeit with an outside draw in 10.

Savvy Nine turned in a solid Happy Valley performance last month in just his second start over the quirky course and has decent enough form to rate a win chance, himself.

Post time for the feature is 7:15 a.m. Eastern on a card that starts at 5:45 a.m. Eastern. You can find live video and wagering at DRFBets.com.

Sky Darci on track despite loss

Sky Darci finished second as the second choice Jan. 1 in the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at Sha Tin but remains on course to race later this month in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, first leg of the Four Year Old Classic Series, Hong Kong’s version of the Triple Crown.

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Sky Darci was one of several horses who had serious trouble at the top of the stretch. Favored Winning Dreamer, who finished sixth – his first loss after six victories to begin his career – came off the fence while not clear of rivals, bumping Kings Shield. That caused a chain reaction, with King’s Shield, Mighty Giant, Fat Turtle, and Sky Darci all suffering significant bumping at a key point in the race. Fat Turtle, who finished well for fourth, probably took the worst of things, but Sky Darci’s hind end came slightly out from under him as he geared up for a finishing kick.

Victorious Champions Way rallied along the inside and avoided all the trouble, going from last to first, Karis Teetan riding for trainer John Size.

Sky Darci was beaten 1 1/4 lengths, finishing with interest after the bumping while taking his first loss in four starts this season.

Winning Dreamer was found to have bled during the race and can’t start again until he passes a veterinary exam. The anti-bleeder medication Lasix isn’t allowed in Hong Kong.