The overall pace was very fast in the first and this race rated well for the Class 5 grade. Master Galaxy set a solid tempo and unfortunately for connections won and bled. Galaxy Emperor also pulled up lame the next day. Well Dragon (SID) was only having his second run in this grade, so there was a fair bit of merit to the performance. The son of Frankel is looking for further, so there is a caveat on the SID! Great Harvest was part of the early speed and boxed on reasonably well. 

This was a race of two halves, slow and then fast. The problem was that those closest to the front end of the race aren’t much good. Shanghai Grace appeared to have every possible chance, he won’t get a much better opportunity to win. Sweetly Baby was decent given the lack of early pace, along with Right Honourable. Outside of that, Faithful Trinity lacked early muster and it was a nightmare for him after that. He still closed well enough and definitely deserves another chance, but he might need a senior rider engaged. 

This was clearly the worst race on the card. A steady first sectional was set, but the winner had the right run and the market wsa certainly was all over Strathclyde ($20 to $10) who won quite comfortably in the end. Ka Fortune was awkwardly placed between runners but his 6th-best final-200m of the race indicates to me that he was only fair, and didn’t have many excuses. Green Envy is ready to win one of these Class 5 races soon, and the stable are flying. Destine Jewellery (SID), if he draws a gate over this trip can win next time.

The pace was strong and this race rated very well indeed, so I’m happy to follow the form out of it. It was a new peak set by Fast Pace and Incanto Prepared was unlucky given he was checked early and ended up a long way back. V Chevaliers had a race-best final-200m (11.68) and he looks as though he will handle even further. 

Wild West Wing continued his recent good vein of form to win again, and posted a similar rating to his preivous success. Considering he was on the rail throughout, it was a solid effort. What might have helped his cause is that his main opponents took a similar path. That said, he can go up in grade and win again. Oversubscribed ran well considering he was first-up. 

The pace was very slow here and it was sprint home. That somewhat offset the wide trip for Sprint Forward but didn’t play in to the hands of Daily Beauty or Smart Charade (11.04 meeting-best final-200m). The latter pair were solid bets for us but just didn’t get the required tempo and Smart Charade still could have won with a smoother final-300m rather than having to check off heels. As a collective, I’m not sure that the race can be trusted given that it didn’t rate very well overall.

It was a much better performance from Mig Energy who appreciated not being used up early. His final-200m (11.12) was excellent and this race rated well. If they ride him like that in the future, then he can go well again. Keep You Warm was very disappointing, although possibly the inside was chopped away by this stage? If that was the case then Trust Me was solid. Overall, the form should work out okay.

This was the best race on the card and the pace was solid through out, setting things up for the swoopers and eventual winner Sunshine Warrior. It was another punishing watch with Butterfield running very well and probably delivering one of the runs of the race, only to run fourth (missing the placings). I don’t think Star Performance is suited to Happy Valley, but he hit the line well. If and when he gets a drop to Class 3, he should be followed. 

It was a good win by Guy Dragon who quickened nicely to narrowly take out the final event and make it two wins from two starts at the city course. The tempo worked against The Runner (SID) and he was just awkwardly placed at a key stage. French-import Amara Win wasn’t too bad on his Hong Kong debut and considering his form was over a mile there, he might be worth considering with another run under the belt and over further.