Hong Kong: A light-weighted Savvy Nine aims for repeat in January Cup

Savvy Nine has lost his first four starts of the Hong Kong racing season – just like he did a year ago before capturing the Group 3 January Cup at Happy Valley.

The 2022 January Cup, at $480,000 Happy Valley’s richest race, comes up Wednesday and Savvy Nine is in with a chance again. He’s one of nine entered to race 1,800 meters and gets in with a feathery 113 pounds, 20 fewer than top-rated Ka Ying Star.

Savvy Nine breaks from post 9 but 1,800-meter Happy Valley races have a substantial run to the first of two turns, affording wider-drawn horses time to find some position. One month before the 2021 January Cup, Savvy Nine finished third in a Happy Valley Class 2 handicap contested over 1,800 meters and he was third in the same kind of race Dec. 8.

A rare winner like Savvy Nine is, however, somewhat hard to trust, and Zebrowski should be dangerous Wednesday with leading jockey Joao Moreira riding for trainer Caspar Fownes. Zebrowski has made only six Hong Kong starts and has performed creditably in his two Happy Valley runs, a Class 2 win over 1,800 meters in November and a fourth behind Savvy Nine in the Dec. 8 contest. In that start, Zebrowski was caught three paths wide with no cover around both turns, lost some position at a key point before turning for home, and did well to stay on solidly between horses while finishing nearly on even terms with Savvy Nine.

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

:: Download DRF's Guide to Betting Hong Kong Racing

Seven-year-old Ka Ying Star makes his 34th Hong Kong start, but just his second at Happy Valley, the first coming in April 2019. He takes a major class drop out of the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup but probably is conceding too much weight to win. Ka Ying Star and Reliable Team, just seventh in the 2021 January Cup, figure to set the pace.

First post for the nine-race card, which also includes a solid Class 2 handicap, is 5:45 a.m. Eastern. You can catch all the action at DRFBets.com.