Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Happy Valley 14th January 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Meteorites Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.92 Standard Time: 1:10.10 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
BLAZING BEAM (AUS 4yo g Reward For Effort – Cannubi) broke his maiden in the opener, causing an upset after jumping a $41 chance. After jumping well, the gelding was urged along to land in a handy position just off the speed for Kingscote. He travelled well through the middle stages and peeled three wide as they turned off the back with the Englishman looking to build his momentum into the straight. He looked a little flat on straightening, but he lifted to move up and take the lead inside the final 150m. The four-year-old was too strong late in the race, scoring by a length in a solid performance. CONCORDE STAR settled in a midfield position for James Orman and had the back of the eventual winner in running. Orman stalked Blazing Beam off the back straight before making a move around the outside. He made a strong move down the outside but could never reel in the winner as he finished in second place. HAPPY BOYS closed off strongly from the back of the pack to finish in third position for Purton and Newnham.
Race 2 – Yummy Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.03 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Hugh Bowman and Cody Mo combined to win race two as FORTUNATE SON (NZ 5yo g U S Navy Flag – Pinstripe) returned to winning ways. The Australian hoop came out neutrally aboard the five-year-old, ending up in the second half of the field as he slotted into the running line. He enjoyed a nice run in transit with no changes to the order throughout the race, with Bowman beginning to make a move with around 450m left to run. The Australian was pushed wide on the turn, coming down the outside to hit the front with 150m left to run. Once Bowman balanced him up, he shot away to win rather comfortably, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. INNO SUPER got away nicely but was dragged right back by Jerry Chau to settle near the tail of the field. The local hoop was able to improve slightly in the early stages as he got down to the rail and he remained in that position throughout the race. Chau looked to work into the race as he approached the 400m point but was in a sticky position with almost the entire field in front of him. Once they'd entered the straight, Inno Super got to the outside and closed off nicely to grab second position, though he never really looked like a winning chance. SETANTA was racing to the inside of Fortunate Son in the race and remained along the fence with Andrea Atzeni riding for luck. The gaps did come when he needed them, but Inno Super and Fortunate Son were just better on the night.
Race 3 – Croisette Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.37 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Cody Mo made it a training double on the card as LUCKY PLANET (AUS 6yo g Pariah - Watchful Eyes) made every post a winner in race three. Matthew Poon was almost left in the barriers the six-year-old jumped that quickly, going straight to the front approaching the first turn. He ran along at a strong tempo for Poon and the field was strung right out through the middle stages. The gelding travelled well to the home turn despite the hot tempo set and on straightening, he just kept running. He ran the field into the ground, showing plenty of late strength to get the job done by 2-3/4 lengths in fine style. BITS SUPERSTAR was right there throughout the race, tracking the leader for Zac Purton. On straightening, it looked as though Bits Superstar would be there to strike, though he began to feel the pinch with around 100m remaining. He was tiring close to the line, though he held on to finish in second position. CALL TO COMMAND stuck on well from midfield to grab third place as a $29 chance, ending up 3-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 4 – Yacht Club Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.98 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
FORTUNE STAR (NZ 4yo g U S Navy Flag – Ala Rasi) bounced back in a big way, securing his maiden victory in fine style. Luke Ferraris snagged the grey gelding from the jump, ending up in the second half of the field as they sorted their order out. He was able to get down to the rail and was suited by a solid tempo being set up front. The tempo slackened a touch by the 800m point and the field bunched, shuffling the gelding back to near last on the home turn with Ferraris riding for luck up the inside. The field got away from the fence, opening the door for Fortune Star to come through with ease, quickening nicely and taking the lead with around 150m to run. He was just too strong late in the race, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in a strong performance. INCANTO STAR raced in a midfield position for Zac Purton, positioned just ahead of the eventual winner coming to the home turn, though the Australian hoop opted to swing wide on the turn. While he did go to the middle of the track, he did have every chance if good enough under Purton, though he just bumped into one better on the night. CALIFORNIA BANNER made a strong run from beyond midfield to finish in third place as a $5.6 chance.
Race 5 – The APM Monaco Cup (Handicap), HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.57 Standard Time: 1:39.90 Course/Class record: 1:38.34 Highland Rahy
Mark Newnham secured a training double on the night as MAX QUE (AUS 5yo g Akeed Mofeed – New Sensation) continued his strong season. From a favourable gate, Purton put the gelding in a handy position just off the speed after being backed into $1.7. The speed was just moderate once they sorted their order out, with the five-year-old racing comfortably as he was shuffled back to a midfield position along the fence. At the 700m point, a move came and the tempo rose, with Purton still waiting patiently along the fence right to the home turn. The gaps appeared for Max Que and he was good enough to shoot through and take the lead with 100m to run. He was a class above late, getting away and winning very easily by 1-1/4 lengths. SILVERY BREEZE was eye-catching from the back of the pack. The gelding was last from the outset and was still a clear last on straightening, with Bowman weaving his way through the traffic in the straight to take home second position. THRIVING BROTHERS was able to hold on for third position after dictating the tempo throughout the race as a $38 chance.
Race 6 – Monaco Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.84 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Zac Purton quickly struck again, scoring aboard WINNING MONEY (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Falqueen) for the Francis Lui stable. After getting away on terms, Zac Purton rolled forward from the wide draw to get across and land on the outside of the leader down the back. The speed was quite strong throughout the race and Purton let the leader go, stalking him around the home turn and launching his attack in the straight. It took a little while for Winning Money to take the lead, but he was tiring late in the race as the chasing pack came out after him. They couldn't catch him however, getting the job done by a neck on the line. DAN ATTACK drifted back after the start and ended up a long way off the speed for Hugh Bowman. He was a whopping 9-1/2 lengths off the leader at the 800m point and was even further away at the 400m point, but he stormed home impressively in the straight. The race favourite was charging hard in the dying stages, but he was just too far back to reel in the winner. GREAT SPIRIT was another who ended up back in the field on settling down. He made a strong run down the outside and looked a winning chance with 100m to run, but he was unable to catch Winning Money.
Race 7 – The January Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:48.00 Standard Time: 1:48.95 Course/Class record: 1:47.94 Money Catcher
SPPED DRAGON (NZ 6yo g Darci Brahma – Keenly) secured the first Group win of his career, claiming The January Cup for Lyle Hewitson and Francis Lui. From barrier seven, Hewitson ended up in the second half of the field, crossing down to the fence and putting the gelding to sleep. The early speed was strong, though once they had sorted their order out, the brakes were applied down the side of the course. Some midrace moves came down the back, with Speed Dragon shuffled back to last place with 600m to run. He had the entire field ahead of him on straightening, with Hewitson slightly held up for a run with 200m to run as he looked for a passage through. When the split came, the six-year-old was there for him, sprinting quickly when asked and slicing through the gap, hitting the front with around 50m to run and securing the win by a half-length. HUGE WAVE landed in a midfield position for Alexis Badel from barrier four and had done no work through the first half of the race. He too was shuffled back with the mid-race moves, though Badel started to rouse him along turning off the back. The French hoop was able to improve his position coming to the home turn and swung to the middle of the track to make his run. He hit the front inside the final furlong but couldn't fend off Speed Dragon who came up his inside. HELENE FEELING couldn't go back-to-back in the Group Three, sticking on well after being pushed very wide on the turn to finish in third position.
Race 8 – Cannes Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.27 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.10 Beauty Waves
Hugh Bowman made it a winning double on the day as STORM RIDER (AUS 5yo g Dracarys – Zeffiretta) secured back-to-back victories. The gelding jumped well from his inside barrier and Hugh Bowman didn't have to do any work to hold a position on the back of the leader. The race changed complexion down the back straight as the leader shot away, though Bowman was still poised to strike turning for home. The Australian hoop shifted to the outside as he made his mark, taking the lead with 150m to run and proving too strong late in the race, winning by a length on the line. REGAL GEM ended up in the second half of the field from barrier eight, which ended up being miles off the leader with 600m to run. Derek Leung worked into the clear out wide as they turned for home and he looked to be making plenty of ground down the outside. It looked as though he would challenge for the win with 100m to run, but he may not have been able to sustain the effort from that far back. He ended up in second place after drifting in betting. BRAVE STAR snuck up the inside to round out the placings as a $23 chance.
Race 9 – Saint Tropez Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.44 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
MIGHTY COMMANDER (AUS 5yo g Artie Schiller -Figlmuller) returned to winning ways in the last race of the night, storming over the top for Alexis Badel and Caspar Fownes. Badel took the gelding to the back of the field shortly after the start, being a clear last in the run with another strong tempo being set up front early on. That was before the leader slammed the brakes on by the 800m point, stacking the field up before kicking away once again around the home turn. Mighty Commander was still last on the turn, with Badel getting to the outside early in the straight, although he still had plenty of ground to make up. In an impressive performance, the five-year-old hit the front with 50m to go and sprinted away from his rivals, winning by a length on the line. PERFECT DAY was also in the second half of the field under Zac Purton and worked into the race nicely around the home turn. Purton made his run down the outside, only for Mighty Commander to blouse him inside the final 100m of the race. He stuck his nose out to finish in second place, getting the nod in a photo finish. CALIFORNIA BLITZ split the gap to hit the front with 150m left to run, but he couldn't fend off the two flying down the outside.
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