Hong Kong: Turnback could give Meaningful Star second straight win

A switch to longer races at Happy Valley has brought forth improved performance this Hong Kong season from Meaningful Star, who will try for his second straight win in one of the triple-features on Wednesday in Hong Kong.

Bred in Ireland and campaigned there as Meaningful Vote at age 2 and 3, Meaningful Star finished no better than fifth in five starts during the 2020-21 season, his first in Hong Kong, but none of those races came at distances longer than 1,600 meters, and in his only Happy Valley run, Meaningful Star tried a 1,200-meter sprint. Down from Class 3 handicaps last year to Class 4, Meaningful Star was tried over 1,650 meters making his season’s debut Sept. 9 at Happy Valley and finished well for second. Two weeks later, back up to Class 3, Meaningful Star won over 1,800 meters, his first Hong Kong success, and is back down to 1,650 meters in Wednesday’s ninth race, Meaningful Star gets a jockey change to Joao Moreira and has a solid shot at Hong Kong victory no. 2.

His race is one of three Class 3 handicaps -- the other two at sprint trips -- and is the nightcap on a nine-race program that starts at 6:45 a.m. Eastern. You can catch all the Hong Kong action at DRFBets.com.

Meaningful Star, drawn on the rail and carrying a manageable 125 pounds, is one of three last-out winners in his race. Lightly raced New Zealand import Fa Fa picks up nine pounds and also carries 125 off a Class 3 win at the distance last out in his 2021-22 debut, that following two wins from his final three starts last season, all at the Class 4 level. Piano Solo wired a Class 4 handicap Sept. 8 in his first start this year, while Surrealism’s rating rose four points following a narrow defeat at this class level and distance on Sept. 15.

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* Lucky Patch and Panfield posted upsets in the two Group 2 stakes on Oct. 17 at Sha Tin. Lucky Patch, a 9-1 shot, held off 10-1 Super Wealthy in the 1,200-meter Premier Bowl, his third start already during the 2021-22 season. Zac Purton rode the winner for trainer Francis Lui, who has design on the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint in December. Short prices Courier Wonder and Naboo Attack finished fifth and ninth, respectively.

Panfield’s victory in the Sha Tin Trophy might carry more long-term weight since the 5-year-old Chilean import was making his first start of the season and racing over a 1,600-meter distance short of his best trip. Panfield’s final start last season yielded a victory in the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup over 2,400 meters, but he was up in time Sunday under Karis Teetan to beat 19-1 shot Preciousship and Tourbillon Diamond. Favored Sky Darci finished eighth and Group 1 winner Waikuku was 10th, but only 2 3/4 lengths separated the dozen runners.