Wishful Thinker sharp for Happy Valley Trophy

Wishful Thinker, an unlucky third in the Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at Sha Tin Racecourse on Jan. 6, may go favored in Wednesday’s $334,497 Happy Valley Trophy at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong in an attempt to win for the third time in his last four starts.

Wishful Thinker won consecutive starts in November before racing in traffic and finishing third in the Bauhinia Sprint, 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Jolly Banner.

The Bauhinia Sprint was run at five furlongs, while the Happy Valley Trophy is run at six furlongs. Wishful Thinker won a minor handicap going six furlongs at Happy Valley in November.

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Trained by Richard Gibson, Wishful Thinker will carry 130 pounds in the Happy Valley Trophy, three less than topweight Born in China, who was fifth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December. Born in China is winless in 12 starts since taking a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley last February.

Wishful Thinker, who will be ridden by Alexis Badel, is a closer. He may be joined at the back by Gunnison, the mount of former Hong Kong leading rider Joao Moreira. Gunnison was the four-length winner of a handicap on the infield dirt course at Sha Tin on Dec. 19. A 4-year-old gelding, Gunnison was third in two six-furlong handicaps at Happy Valley last October and November, finishing behind Wishful Thinker in the latter of those races.

Moreira has a leading mount in the $334,497 Shan Kwong Handicap at a mile and 50 yards at Happy Valley on Wednesday with Insayshable, who was fourth after a slow start in the Group 3 Centenary Vase at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin on Jan. 27.

Insayshable, who shares top weight of 133 pounds with Rise High, closed from fifth to prevail by a nose in a minor handicap at a mile at Sha Tin on Dec. 9.

Rise High, who will be ridden by leading rider Zac Purton, is winless in two starts in the current Hong Kong season, which began in September. The Shan Kwong Handicap will be Rise High’s first start since a third in a handicap at a mile on turf at Sha Tin in November.