Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday, December 6th, featuring the International Jockeys’ Championship.
We have a nine-race card in the lead up to the Hong Kong International Races this Sunday, with the International Jockeys’ Championship being contested in races four, five, seven and eight on tonight’s card.
We have betting tips and comments for every race below, and we’ll have a full preview for the International Races on Sunday, featuring four Group 1’s.
HAPPY VALLEY RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 8 Super Form
Best Value: Race 3 Fairy Twins
Race 1
Looks as if the market has it right here and YOURTHEWONFORME looks the clear standout on form. He’s had just three starts for new trainer Frankie Lor, resulting in two wins and a luckless 8th when held up for a run the entire straight. Joao Moreira has had nine rides for Frankie Lor, five of which have been wins, so their strike rate together is lethal. Zac Purton jumps off BELOVED to ride WINNING CONTROLLER here, who has had two starts this preparation and has been just fair in both. He’s never raced over this distance before but the soft barrier draw will allow him every chance and there’s a sense of timing about him third up with Purton taking over here. Moreira jumps of GOBI STORM who gets the 3kg apprentice Dylan Mo back on board, so from the outside barrier he looks to be the leader. If he can find the rail without doing too much work early he should be there for a long way. BORN TO RACE and THE INVINCIBLE others to include.
TIP: Yourthewonforme
Race 2
Really solid Class 4 here. INFINITY ENDEAVOUR has gone close on numerous occasions without breaking through and he comes into this on the back of a few nice trials. Joao Moreira takes the ride for John Size which is an ominous sign, but this is his first look at Happy Valley and he’ll need to be at his best to win this quality of Class 4 race. Interested in two at decent odds. SHARPMIND comes off a solid win last start and only rises 2kg in the weights. With the good draw he can feature in the finish once again at $8. SUPER JUNIOR ticks a few boxes – he gets a class drop and a huge jockey change with Purton taking over from Derek Leung and could run a big race at $13. AMBITIOUS HEART, HAPPY HAPPY and SHOW MISSION all have claims.
TIP: Sharpmind EW / Super Junior EW
Race 3
Another intriguing race. John Size has called on Hugh Bowman to take the ride on SIR REDALOT here after his first up win over track and distance with Joao Moreira aboard. I find that jockey change very interesting because I think if Moreira wanted to keep the ride he would have. Instead he rides FAIRY TWINS for Chris So, who is third up here at a track and distance he has a good record at. He’s a $7 chance and I’d recommend having something on at that price. WHO ELSE BUT YOU has won his past two starts and consequently gone up significantly in rating points and weight. He’s double figure odds and he’s another I won’t be losing on. HEALTHY LUCK, BLAZE STAMINA and CHARITY GLORY all worth consideration.
TIP: Sir Redalot / Fairy Twins EW (Best Value)
Race 4
First leg of the IJC and a very competitive race. MUTUAL JOY was just fair first up but he’ll improve plenty for that run and he’s won second up previously. He’s a three-time winner over course and distance and draws favourably here so at $8.50 he’s a decent price. GARLIC YEAH is huge odds first up here. He may well need the run but his record at the track is outstanding with two wins and a placing from three starts. He could show up fresh at $26. FOREVER POSH is knocking on the door and gets Ryan Moor aboard from a good barrier, and MR KOOL is another Frankie Lor-trained runner that’s in good form and can run well again.
TIP: Mutual Joy EW / Garlic Yeah EW
Race 5
Another wide-open race with about six good chances. PEACE COMBINATION was racing in good form before finishing out of the placings last start but he raced wide without cover for the majority of the race. From barrier 1 he should get the run of the race and go very close at $6. SILVER SPUN looks value at near double figure odds. He was well beaten last start but was engaged in a speed battle and pulled up with blood in the trachea. He gets a class drop here and can’t be discounted. DR PROACTIVE could be the big value in the race at $17 with Hugh Bowman aboard. He was held up for the majority of the straight last start and has since trialled nicely leading into this. JOLLY BOUNTIFUL, EXCEPTIONAL DESIRE and FISH ‘N’ CHIPS are all chances.
TIP: Peace Combination / Silver Spun EW
Race 6
MONEY BOY is very short for a horse that’s won just once from 19 starts but he finds another very winnable race here. Went close last start, Moreira sticks with him and from barrier 5 he’ll get the run of the race. Brave if taking that price but he will definitely be in the finish. WAYFOONG VINNIE is a nice each way price. He showed something for the first time this prep last start and from the good draw he can add to his good record over the track and distance. KEEP MOVING is two from two at the track and distance but goes up in weight again and draws poorly. E-SUPER will likely be sent forward from the wide draw and if he gets an easy sectional or two, expect him to be there for a long way.
TIP: Money Boy / Wayfoong Vinnie EW
Race 7
Nightmare race. Not keen at all on the price about GODSPEED but he draws nicely and comes off a big run at Sha Tin last start when left wide without cover mid-race before finishing strongly. He steps up to 1650m here after two runs at the 1400m and looks well placed with a light weight and a good draw. SPEEDY WALLY just had too much to do from a wide gate last start but he draws nicely here for Ryan Moore and can go close. The query is whether the handicapper has caught up with him. CURLING LUXURY has a great record at the track and gets Joao Moreira on board which may be enough to see him run a big race at double figure odds but he draws poorly. LET’S TAKE IT EASY has been racing well at Sha Tin but has a poor record at Happy Valley. BO DUKE, SPARKLING SWORD and VARA PEARL could also be considered.
TIP: Godspeed
Race 8
With the favourite SUPER FORM here who has really put the writing on the wall with his past two starts. He’s come from the back of the field on both occasions and finished off strongly to run 2nd, so from the good draw he may be able to sit a touch closer tonight and if that’s the case, he can go awfully close. BANK ON RED has been running well over track and distance recently and gets a good draw tonight to have every chance once again. KIRAM finished 2nd on two occasions before failing last start, but he had excuses. He travelled wide without cover and also pulled up lame, so if he can find a bit of cover from barrier 9 tonight he can feature at double figure odds. LITTERATEUR not a bad each way hope.
TIP: Super Form / Kiram EW
Race 9
I’ve got this between Moreira and Purton. DINOZZO produced a good win at Sha Tin last start and beat a handy one in Sacred Elixir. He goes up in weight here and draws poorly but he’s a very talented horse and Moreira sticks with him. He’s got a great record over the track and distance and the price is good. LUCKY GIRL also won last start at Sha Tin but has a good record at Happy Valley. Zac Purton takes the ride from a good barrier tonight and he gets things to suit so $6.50 is a good price for him too. THE GOLDEN AGE won well first up and looks a logical danger but he draws poorly here.
TIP: Dinozzo / Lucky Girl EW
International Jockeys’ Championship
There’s only one market I’ve seen and the prices are slightly different to what we are getting here in Hong Kong, but I think Keita Tosaki has very solid rides in every leg of the Jockeys’ Challenge and Boudot is another frontrunner with solid rides in three of the four legs. I’ll be backing both.
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
