Stronger looks tough in deep Class 2 handicap

They’re busting down the doors to get into the featured eighth race Wednesday night at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong, with an overflow field of 14 entered in a wildly competitive Class 2 handicap.

Twelve can start in this 1,000-meter race around one turn that’s open to horses rated 100-80 in the Hong Kong handicap system; Seven Heavens and Styling City are stand-by starters, Hong Kong’s version of North American also-eligibles.

Top-rated at 91, Saul’s Special must lug 131 pounds, giving as much as 13 pounds to his opponents, and even at more level weights, Saul’s Special would lack appeal given his recent slate of form. The horse just behind him in the ratings, however, is Stronger at 93, and even toting 130 pounds, Stronger could be formidable Wednesday night. Just a 3-year-old, Stronger has made only five Hong Kong starts for trainer John Moore, and a return to the form he showed winning over 1,000 meters on Feb. 12 at Happy Valley might well make him a winner. That night, Stronger tracked the pace and really turned on the speed midway through the Happy Valley homestretch, bursting clear to post a 1 3/4-length Class 3 win. Stronger turned in a relatively flat performance finishing sixth going a straight 1,000 meters at Sha Tin and might prefer the turn he gets Wednesday night.

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Second to Stronger in his Happy Valley triumph some two months ago was Hong Kong Win, who raced from the rear of the field that night, had to wait slightly for room about 500 meters from the finish, but wound up getting through along the inside, finishing well enough while no match for Stronger. Hong Kong Win, with Joao Moreira to ride for trainer John Size, comfortably bested Stronger last month in the Sha Tin straight-course race, finishing second by a head to Computer Patch, who was back in action March 29 at Sha Tin with a good second-place Class 2 finish.

This Is Class is the race’s big ratings riser, going up six points to lift his mark to 83 on the strength of a front-running Class 3 Happy Valley win March 4. This Is Class was hustled to the lead that night, shrugged off his pace rivals before cornering for home, and was well clear 200 meters out before several pursuers closed the gap in the final stages. If leading is the plan again, he risks a duel with habitual front-runner Moment of Power, though This Is Class carries just 120 pounds.

First post for the spectator-free card is set for 7:15 a.m. Eastern.