Hong Kong: My Ecstatic steps up to Class 2 company at Happy Valley

Who can tell when the light bulb might go on for a racehorse? My Ecstatic won once in his first 18 Hong Kong starts but comes into the featured ninth race Wednesday a winner three times in his last four starts.

Mired in Class 4 handicaps much of his career, My Ecstatic gets a crack at Class 2 rivals for the first time in a 1,650-meter race for horses rated 95-75. On bare talent he might not be good enough to contend, but Hong Kong’s handicap system helps in that regard. Even coming off a 2 1/4-length over this Happy Valley distance in his most recent race, a victory that earned him an eight-point rating rise from the Hong Kong Jockey Club handicapping department, My Ecstatic sits at the bottom of the weights in Wednesday’s 12-runner contest. He carries just 118 pounds, getting as much as 17 pounds from top-rated Telecom Fighters.

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

Telecom Fighters is a key horse for My Ecstatic, whose form surge was driven by a switch from sprint races to middle distances, where he has been leading or pressing the pace. Telecom Fighters is a confirmed front-runner who breaks from post 9; My Ecstatic leaves from post 6 and if all went ideally would let Telecom Fighters cross and clear, then use him as a target.

None of the top-five rated entrants inspire much confidence, and Gorytus, who stands a good chance under Zac Purton, drew post 10, a tough spot in a race that starts just before the first of two turns. Packing Award could sit a good trip just behind the pace and while up from Class 3 to Class 2 the gelding is in good form and drops nine pounds, from 131 to 122, in Wednesday’s contest.

This is the penultimate race card of the 2021-22 Hong Kong season. The final program is this weekend at Sha Tin. First post is 6:45 a.m. Eastern and you can catch all the action at DRFBets.com.