Ruthven gets class relief in Happy Valley Vase

For a Group 1 winner in Australia, Ruthven has yet to live up to expectations since arriving in Hong Kong before the 2017-18 season.

Ruthven, a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, has 1 win in 10 starts in Hong Kong, a record that could improve when he starts in Wednesday’s $334,399 Happy Valley Vase at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Happy Valley Racecourse.

The Happy Valley Vase represents a notable drop in class for Ruthven, who was 12th of 14 behind Exultant in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse in December. The Hong Kong Vase drew an international field and is one of Hong Kong’s toughest races.

Wednesday’s Happy Valley Vase is a handicap, and drew an accomplished field of eight.

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Insayshable is the 131-pound highweight, seeking his third win in nine starts at the current Hong Kong season, which began in September. Insayshable, trained by John Size, was fourth behind Exultant in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at Sha Tin in late January and later seventh in a handicap at Happy Valley on Feb. 13.

Ruthven will be ridden for the first time by Regan Bayliss, the 21-year-old Australian who recently began riding in Hong Kong. Bayliss rode Ruthven in a workout earlier this month on the dirt course at Sha Tin.

Ruthven is trained by Frankie Lor, whose stable is in fine form, having won the $2.29 million Hong Kong Derby on Sunday with Furore.

Ruthven was transferred from John Moore to Lor last May, but has yet to regain the form that led to a win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby in Australia in 2017. Ruthven is winless in three starts at the current Hong Kong season and has not started since the Hong Kong Vase.

Ruthven, who runs from a stalking position when effective, will carry 125 pounds. The pacesetter is expected to be Circuit Glory, the winner of a handicap at a mile and 50 yards at Happy Valley on Feb. 13.