27-05-2025
May 28 Hong Kong (Happy Valley) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m)
4 Sky Prophet was unsuited rising to the extended mile last start and had some excuses in the running, but his effort over this distance previously - when a close-up second under Hugh Bowman - reads well. He reunites with Bowman and looks set to bounce back.
5 Ever Smart has been edging towards a first win since the downgrade, placing in four of his seven starts in this grade. He shapes as a contender with an anticipated soft run.
8 Gallant Goody resumes for his second start since joining David Hall and barrier 1 is a big positive. He is capable of showing more.
6 Joyful Life is another long-standing maiden, but he draws well in gate 2 and can improve on recent form with a more favourable run in transit - worth considering for the minors.
Race 2 (1,200m)
6 Ragnarr steps back up to 1,200m after two good runs over 1,000m - a fast-finishing second two starts ago and an unlucky sixth last time from barrier 12. Moving into a middle draw with the rise in trip brings him right back into contention.
4 Camp Fire is on his third attempt in Class 5 and has trialled well. He looks ready to improve on his encouraging first-up fifth.
9 So Awesome has been racing over longer trips with solid form, but the drop back in distance should not pose a problem. From a low draw, he can map positively and be in with a genuine shot.
7 Hoss is edging closer to a win in this grade, but his negative racing pattern and another wide barrier work against him. Watch out for him charging late again.
Race 3 (2,200m)
1 Beauty Viva steps out for his third start in Class 4 and looks ready to win after putting the writing on the wall last time with a fast-finishing second. He was held up from the 400m until passing the 300m and closed off strongly. He will be hard to hold out with clearer running.
10 Hakka Radiance has been edging closer to a breakthrough this season, posting five placings from 12 runs - three of those over this course and distance.
8 Perfect Pairing broke through last start at this course and trip with a strong win. He is trending the right way and can be followed.
7 Management Folks is a two-time course-and-distance winner, and has also placed four times from nine tries at the trip. A solid each-way contender.
Race 4 (1,200m)
6 Island Buddy has drawn no lower than barrier 9 in his last five runs, which meant he has been made to work hard early, given his on-pace profile. His first try at this course and distance last start was encouraging - leading from barrier 12 before being swamped late into fourth, beaten only ½ length.
5 Thunder Prince maps to get a soft run from gate 3 and, with Bowman remaining aboard, he is capable of picking up a Class 4 win.
9 Rewarding Twinkle is an interesting runner resuming off a stable transfer to Frankie Lor. His recent trial was encouraging and the change of yards might spark the necessary improvement from this lightly raced three-year-old.
3 Sweet Briar, a three-time winner from six in this class, is worth keeping safe on his second try back in Class 4 - he faded to ninth last start, but he can improve with a smoother trip.
Race 5 (1,650m)
1 Prestige Good has been holding consistent form since finding his way into Class 4, with three successive thirds. He maps to get one of the runs of the race in a fiercely competitive contest.
5 Sight Supreme resumes and, for once, comes up with a good draw in barrier 1 after drawing no lower than gate 9 in recent starts. He can make use of the inside alley and improve his Happy Valley stats off a quiet trial.
11 Jumbo Fortune, a one-time winner from 56 local starts, is on the quick seven-day turnaround following a luckless eighth last time. Then, he was checked at the 200m and disappointed for room passing the 100m.
12 Super Sicario showed positive change last start when he ran on pace from a good draw for the first time in his sixth start. He faded late into sixth, beaten 2½ lengths. As a three-year-old, he is improving and can take a solid step forward.
Race 6 (1,200m)
3 Tactical Command strung together back-to-back wins before being undone by wide draws in his two most recent runs. Despite that, his efforts were still credible given his positions in running. Moving into a better barrier gives him the chance to return to a more favourable map and bounce back to winning form.
2 Young Arrow remains winless after 11 Hong Kong starts but has consistently gone close, with four thirds and rarely being far from the finish. He now drops into Class 4 for the first time, which sets him up nicely to be competitive.
10 Telecom Power needed 18 starts to finally break through, but he did it well, and his overall form this season has been consistently solid. A slightly trickier draw changes his speed map scenario, but he remains in the mix.
1 California Deeply dropped back into Class 4 last start and produced a strong closing fourth, beaten under two lengths. This is a good return to the grade and places him right in the frame again.
Race 7 (1,650m)
6 Lucky Touch struck traffic in the straight last time before finding clear room and charging late into second when it was too late. He gets another chance, having been itching to break through in Class 3 since moving into the grade three starts ago.
3 Hameron has been back in good form despite little luck. Two starts ago, he was held up late and could not be fully tested, while last time, he was forced wide early before being steadied through the field, yet still closed off well late.
5 Flying Fortress posted his first Hong Kong win two starts ago with a comfortable one-length victory, and followed up with another solid effort when beaten a neck into second after doing some early work from barrier 10. He is in with another strong chance.
7 Samarkand maps to land on pace in a race lacking early tempo. It has been a while between wins, but his last-start third over 1,800m was encouraging and he is one to consider.
Race 8 (1,650m)
3 Sky Vino finally draws a decent gate after three successive wide barriers since his breakthrough win four starts ago. From barrier 4, he maps to get one of the runs given his on-pace profile and looks the one to beat.
6 Swagger Bro has been running well since dropping into Class 4, and now the rise in trip may unlock further improvement to see him in the money.
8 Iconical is a noted pace influence who led all the way to win two starts ago, but did too much work from barrier 12 last time. He now moves into a mid-draw and can bounce back.
4 Satirical Fan should find somewhere near the front with ease from his inside gate and, coming off a neck second, is well placed to break through for his first win in over a year after returning to Class 4 and recapturing form.
Race 9 (1,200m)
11 Watch This One lines up for his fourth local start after rearing at the jump last time and never threatening thereafter. His trial since has been encouraging and, from barrier 2, he is well placed to run a much-improved race given his close-up finishes before that mishap.
3 Spicy Gold has already had a stellar season, posting three wins and three seconds, including a runner-up effort behind Happy Fat Cat last time. He maps to get the run of the race and looks primed to go one better.
8 Wukong Jewellery finished midfield in seventh on his Hong Kong debut, 4½ lengths behind Crimson Flash. He will take plenty of improvement from that run and looks set to show more second-up.
10 Goko Win draws barrier 1 again, which proved the winning formula last start when he turned in a big performance to score at the top of Class 4. With another all-favours run from the paint, that inside draw can help offset the class rise back up into Class 3.
