Arm Runda won back-to-back Happy Valley Class 4 handicaps during the 2016-2017 Hong Kong racing season, and he will try to win his second straight Happy Valley Class 3 in the $167,444 Hong Kong Challenge Cup on Wednesday night.
The sixth of eight races on the Happy Valley card, the Hong Kong Challenge Cup, contested around one turn at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), is among three Class 3's that close the program.
Brett Davis:
R1 - 3-11-1-6
R2 - 2-7-3-1
R3 - 2-7-12-6
R4 - 6-1-8-10
R5 - 4-3-2-7
R6 - 11-8-3-1
R7 - 9-1-2-6
R8 - 4-7-3-5
Best - R1 No 3 Zero Hedge
Longshot - R6 N3 High Five
Best Play - R6 Q/QP 3,8,11
Paul Lally:
R1 11-3-6-8
R2 3-1-9-10
R3 2-12-4-5
R4 8-1-5-6
R5 4-1-7-5
R6 8-12-7-6
R7 8-2-1-7
R8 9-1-7-3
Best Bet R6 N8 Powermax
Longshot R7 N8 Ishvara
Best Play QQP 1-2-8
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 17, 2018)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
RACE 1: #10 Gouten Of Garo, #6 Majestic Dragon, #11 Lunar Zephyr, #3 Zero Hedge
RACE 2: #2 Goal For Gold, #3 The Legend, #1 Amazing Always, #4 Winning Controller
RACE 3: #2 All Best Friends, #1 Peace On Earth, #7 Magic Success, #12 Bingo
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Saturday, January 13)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Brett Davis
Race 1: 1-11-2-13
Race 2: 10-6-1-8
Race 3: 1-2-3-4
Race 4: 1-9-2-6
Race 5: 3-1-2-6
Race 6: 6-12-3-1
Race 7: 6-4-10-1
Race 8: 12-7-1-13
Race 9: 7-6-2-4
Race 10: 13-12-6-4
Best Bet - Race 8: #12 Enjoy Life
Longshot - Race 2: #8 President Paramount
Best Play - Race 2: Trio 10/1,4,6,8
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Saturday, January 13, 2018)
RACE 1: #1 Kwaichung Brothers, #5 Great Toplight, #13 Laughing Lord, #11 Wonderful Chaser
RACE 2: #1 Primero, #6 Ever Laugh, #8 Presidentparamount, #10 Royale Elegance
RACE 3: #4 Ace King, #3 Beauty Energy, #1 Dragon Master, #7 Roman Odyssey
RACE 4: #2 Ensuring, #1 Super Chic, #6 Mambo Rock, #9 Rule Thee
RACE 5: #3 Nice Kick, #2 Super Eighteen, #1 Lean Perfection, #4 Dr Proactive
Divine Boy has had a consistent, but light, campaign since the Hong Kong season began in September.
In four starts, Divine Boy has not been worse than third, with one win in a minor handicap on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin Racecourse in October. The win will make Divine Boy a factor in Saturday’s $237,775 Hong Kong Shipowners Association 60th Anniversary Cup at about a mile on the all-weather track at Sha Tin.
Heavy Metal is an 8-year-old who made his career debut in March 2012 at Doncaster Racecourse in England. Almost six years later and several thousand miles away, Heavy Metal looked like he was in the full bloom of youth, romping to a 4 1/2-length score over the favored Thunder Snow in the Group 2, $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, the featured race on opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 10, 2018)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Brett Davis
Race 1: 8-4-1-2
Race 2: 6-12-2-9
Race 3: 7-5-8-3
Race 4: 8-3-12-7
Race 5: 4-11-3-5
Race 6: 5-8-1-9
Race 7: 4-9-2-10
Race 8: 5-2-8-4
Best Bet- Race 2: #6 Sharpmind
Longshot - Race 3: #7 Cour Valant
Best Play - Race 4: Q/QP 3,8,12
Eagle Way found racing against Highland Reel to be too difficult last month, finishing eighth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Many horses found racing against the international superstar Highland Reel to be too tough in recent years.
In his own right, Eagle Way has a leading place in Hong Kong’s stakes on turf, and will start as the 133-pound highweight in Wednesday’s Group 3 January Cup at about 1 1/8 miles on turf at Happy Valley Racecourse.
Eagle Way, who will be ridden by Zac Purton, will spot his rivals from six to 20 pounds.
It’s fair to say the last Dubai World Cup Carnival went out with a bang, with Arrogate’s unbelievable last-to-first thumping of the presumed 2017 American Horse of the Year Gun Runner putting a memorable end to the Carnival.
