HONG KONG – The feature on the Wednesday night card at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong is not actually a race. Nor is it even really the horses themselves in the spotlight. Rather, this is a night for the riders, with 12 jockeys set to participate in the 2017 renewal of the Longines International Jockey Challenge.

The lineup includes four Hong Kong-based riders and eight jockeys who have shipped in from foreign jurisdictions, among them the California-based French native Flavien Prat, who has his first rides in Hong Kong on Wednesday night.

HONG KONG – California-based trainer Peter Miller has good reason to believe Stormy Liberal’s trip to Hong Kong will produce a better outcome than Miller’s first foray into the Hong Kong International Races.

In 2016, Miller sent Fast Parade here for the Hong Kong Sprint. The horse never got to run, scratched by officials from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“It didn’t work out,” Miller said. “There was a bit of a disagreement. We’ve put that all behind us now.”

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, December 6, 2017)

RACE 1: #3 Beloved, #4 Gobi Storm, #9 Born To Race, #2 Yourthewonforme

RACE 2: #3 Infinity Endeavour, #4 Ambitious Heart, #6 Bossiee, #12 Show Mission

RACE 3: #5 Healthy Luck, #7 Fairy Twins, #6 Blaze Stamina, #8 Charity Glory

RACE 4: #2 Sangria, #12 Money Winner, #7 Forever Posh, #5 Mutual Joy

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, December 3, 2017)

RACE 1: #2 Rugby Diamond, #11 Snowhooves, #5 Actuariat, #3 Corre Rapido

RACE 2: #2 Master Viking, #10 Startling Power, #4 Hearts Keeper, #1 Sun Touch

RACE 3: #1 Sparkling Dragon, #2 Gallant Return, #4 Fantastic Show, #6 Flame Lily

RACE 4: #10 Winningli, #7 Equity Doctrine, #13 Faithful Boy, #12 Happy Friendship

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

Wednesday, November 29

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

There is one blemish in the four-race career of Mega Heart, who starts as the 133-pound highweight in Wednesday’s $167,927 Ho Man Tin Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

After winning his first two starts in New Zealand in 2016, Mega Heart was ninth in his Hong Kong debut on Oct. 22. A 5-year-old gelding, Mega Heart rebounded to win a minor handicap a week later, leading to Wednesday’s race at six furlongs on turf.

Mega Heart is the 133-pound highweight in a field of 12, and his ascension through the Hong Kong handicap rankings can continue.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, November 29, 2017)

RACE 1: #7 Brilliant Monkeys, #4 Victory Follow Me, #6 Fun Manager, #12 Golden Cannon

RACE 2: #3 Royal Chocolate, #2 London Master, #5 Jumbo Bus, #7 Numero Uno

RACE 3: #8 Happy Rocky, #6 Istanbul Bey, #5 Fancy Music, #2 Happy Contender

RACE 4: #4 Golden Deer, #8 Seven Luck, #3 Good Method, #2 Cheers Conqueror

Cheval Grand, a 12-1 outsider, won his first Grade 1 in his 22nd start in Sunday’s $5,828 million Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse, improving on a third-place performance in 2016 for a career-defining win.

Cheval Grand, ridden by Australia-based Hugh Bowman, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Rey de Oro, the winner of the Japanese Derby earlier this year. Kitasan Black, the even-money favorite and 2016 Japanese Horse of the Year, could only finish third in the field of 17 after setting the pace. Kitasan Black won the 2016 Japan Cup.

Brett Davis:

R1: 7-8-2-6
R2: 6-1-2-4
R3: 3-1-4-10
R4: 2-14-5-10
R5: 7-8-9-2
R6: 7-1-8-9
R7: 6-3-4-2
R8: 12-3-9-1
R9: 6-4-1-10
R10: 14-3-2-5

Best - R8 n12 Time To Celebrate
Longshot - R7 n6 Super Turbo

John Blance:

R1: 7-2-5-12
R2: 1-6-2-8
R3: 1-4-3-7
R4: 2-5-14-6
R5: 2-8-10-5
R6: 1-7-8-6
R7: 3-9-4-10
R8: 3-12-4-8
R9: 6-1-3-4
R10: 14-3-4-2

Ruggero won his dirt-course debut in an eventful running of Saturday’s $170,894 Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse, the first race of a three-race series that could produce a Japanese-based runner for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Ruggero won the one-mile race by a half-length over Mic Ben Hur. Meiner Yukitsubaki, a colt by 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another, finished third in the field of eight, a nose behind Mic Ben Hur.