Hong Kong: Voyage Warrior looks to get back to winner's circle in Class 2 feature at Happy Valley
On April 5, 2020, Voyage Warrior posted a front-running victory at odds of 23-1 in the Group 2 Sprint Cup. Voyage Warrior was lightly raced and looked progressive, a seemingly interesting addition to the Hong Kong sprint-stakes ranks.
But not only has Voyage Warrior lost 15 races in a row since that surprise score, he has failed to even finish as high as third during the string of defeats. Connections have tried longer races, at 1,400 and 1,600 meters, and a shorter race over 1,000 meters, and Wednesday they will try a new venue, with Voyage Warrior set to make his Happy Valley debut in the featured eighth race.
This is a 1,000-meter, Class 2 handicap for horses rated 100-80, and Voyage Warrior, once rated 120, has sunk to a 99 rating. He’s weighted at 133 pounds, but will carry 128 with five-pound apprentice jockey Victor Wong named to ride. Voyage Warrior has gone to the lead and faded badly his last three starts, but class relief and the shorter homestretch at Happy Valley could boost his chances at an overdue revival.
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Grateful Heart is rated 96 but gets an even larger weight break, seven pounds, with apprentice Jerry Chan named. Another struggling speed horse, Grateful Heart did win four times last season at Happy Valley and makes only his second start this season, though he was a soundly defeated 11th in his most recent outing.
We the South is the race’s big rating riser, up eight points to 87 following a two-length romp in a Happy Valley race at this class level and distance. That performance came out of the blue, ending We the South’s eight-race losing streak since he moved out of Class 3 and into Class 2, and We the South seems an unlikely repeater.
Hong Kong Win might have found a good spot. While winless over his last two seasons of racing, Hong Kong Win has held his own in a long string of Class 2 and Class 3 sprints, and his stalking style could play well here. Drawn well enough in post 3, Hong Kong win has Victor Borges riding for trainer John Size, who won three races last Wednesday at Happy Valley.
First post for the nine-race program is 5:45 a.m. Eastern, and you can catch all the action at DRFBets.com.
