Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Happy Valley 17th December 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Heron Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:16.82 Standard Time: 2:17.35 Course/Class record: 2:15.12 Super Hong Kong
STAR BROSE (GB 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Victoria's Angel) had been knocking on the door for a little while and finally shed the maiden tag at his first time over 2200m. After jumping on terms, the gelding landed in a midfield position with a solid tempo being set through the early stages of the race. Bowman was able to stay one off the fence as they sorted their order out and with a solid tempo on offer, the field strung out down the side of the course. The Australian hoop was 7-1/4 lengths away at the 800m point with some moves starting from the back despite the strong tempo being set up front. Bowman hopped in their trail, and he was cruising through the field coming to the home turn, swinging into the clear and coming down the middle of the track with his run. He moved up to take the lead with around 100m to run and was too strong late in the race, winning by a half-length on the line. PERFECT TIMING ended up in the second half of the field on settling down after being a little slow into stride from gate five. James McDonald was able to improve his position slightly through the opening stages to end up on the inside of Star Brose as they raced by the winning post with a lap to go. McDonald looked to be in a handy position until the moves came, with the kiwi jocker being shuffled back in the run and swinging wider on the turn. The advantage he had over Star Brose was gone and he was unable to peg back that margin, getting to within a half length on the line. STORM RUNNER was one of those who made a move down the back and was four wide on the turn, though he did hit the front inside the furlong momentarily. He stuck on well down to the line to hold on for third position.
Race 2 – Robin Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 57.37 Standard Time: 57.35 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
A return to the 1000m journey and an inside barrier saw MACANESE MASTER (AUS 6yo g Universal Ruler – True Storm) turn his form right around after being beaten 11 lengths and 8-3/4 lengths his past couple. The six-year-old was able to kick up between horses from barrier two, sitting close to the speed on settling down. He inched closer around the home turn to join the lead on straightening and stuck his nose in front shortly after. He was challenged to both his outside and inside, but the former Macau galloper had too much in the tank, seeing off the challenges and winning by a nose on the post. ISLAND BREEZES was out the back early in the run as Luke Ferraris crossed down to the fence. The South African hoop was pinching runs along the inside, scraping the paint around the home turn and firing up the inside in the straight. He came with a strong burst late in the race, but he couldn't stick his nose in front at any stage, going down in a photo finish. ORIENTAL SURPRISE was positioned just in front of Island Breezes in the urn and swung wide on the turn for James McDonald, coming down the outside in the straight. He loomed as a big threat but may have just peaked on the run late in proceedings, ending up in third place, only a neck away.
Race 3 – Albatross Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.28 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
James McDonald picked up his first win of the night aboard the Chris So-trained PERFECTDAY (AUS 4yo g Gingerbread Man – Sonata), making it back-to-back wins on either side of a break. From out wide, McDonald slid the gelding back to be a clear last down the back straight. The speed was hot up front and when the moves came from the 500m point, McDonald was quickly onto their backs. He swung widest on the turn but had plenty of momentum up as he stormed down the outside. The leader was a few lengths in front at the furlong, but he was tiring and Perfectday came with a strong run down the outside to get the job done, scoring by three quarters of a length. FLOW WATER FLOW backed up his impressive debut with another strong performance. He ended up in the second half of the field despite jumping from barrier four with Hugh Bowman racing in the three-wide line with cover. He gradually improved his position through the middle stages and as they turned off the back, McDonald followed his every move into the straight. Bowman came wide on the turn, with he and Perfectday making their runs together down the outside. He ducked in a touch late in the race with Perfectday rolling in, but he was unable to fend off the winner who was just too strong late. TOUSAND CUPS set a strong tempo up front under Angus Chung and kicked away on straightening in an impressive effort. He was well in front at the furlong but was getting tired with 100m to run. He was getting swamped late in the race, though he had enough in the tank to hold on for third as a $31 chance.
Race 4 – Lark Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.67 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
CALIFORNIA MOXIE (IRE 4yo g Mehmas – Obama Rule) bounced back to winning ways in race four with Hugh Bowman in the saddle for Tony Cruz. The gelding was a touch slow into stride and Bowman drifted back early in the race to settle near the tail of the field. The speed was fair early with the gelding race well back with 1000m to run. There was no change to the order until a move came with 600m to run, which Bowman followed into the race as they turned off the back. He came the widest on straightening and while he had plenty of ground to make up, the gelding quickened impressively down the outside. He quickly reeled in his rivals to hit the front inside the final 150m of the race and won very comfortably, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths on the line. GLORIOUS JOURNEY settled midfield under Vincent Ho after a clean break from barrier three, jumping the $3.4 second favourite. He was slightly hampered down the back straight as he had runners fall in his face as the leader slammed on the brakes, which cost him a good position in running. He was the last horse around the turn and needed to wait for the run to appear out wide, and by that point California Moxie was off and gone. He chased hard to finish in second position, but the damage was done from the 600m point. SUPERB GUY raced midfield and long the fence for Jerry Chau and snuck up the inside in the straight to close off strongly for third position, only 2 lengths off the winner.
Race 5 – The Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.95 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
It was a big turnaround for FLASH STAR (NZ 4yo g Charm Spirit – Minnaloushka), breaking his maiden at start seven as a $41 elect. After being away on terms, Richard Kingscote ended up in the second half of the field. There was no change to the order throughout and as the field fanned on the home turn, it allowed Flash Star to improve into the race, sticking to the inside rail on the turn. He wasn't racing very generously along the inside, though he was making ground up the fence, sneaking through to hit the front with around 50m remaining. He was too strong late, inching away to score by three quarters of a length. LOVING VIBES showed good early speed to roll forward from barrier six and sit on the outside of the leader in running. He travelled well up front and worked into the race strongly on the home turn, gaining the upper hand shortly after straightening. He was just in front with 100m to run, but Flash Star was just too good back to the inside. BITS SUPERSTAR stuck on well after enjoying the run of the race under James McDonald.
Race 6 – Swiftlet Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.88 Standard Time: 1:49.65 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
It was another long-price winner in race six with YOUNG BRAVO (AUS 4yo g All Too Hard – Collins) breaking his maiden as a $31 chance. James Orman slid across in the early stages to slot into a midfield position on settling down, racing along the inside rail with the gelding racing comfortably. An even tempo was set throughout the race with no moves coming as they turned off the back straight. Young Bravo looked to be struggling past the 600m point, losing ground to the horses in front of him and Orman had to start urging the gelding along as they turned off the back. He picked up nicely around the home turn with Orman sticking to the rail around the home turn, cutting the corner and going underneath his rivals. They were right across the track in the straight, but it was Young Bravo up the inside who hit the front with around 100m to run. It was a tight tussle to the line, but the Jockey Club's horse got his head down on the line to get the job done. CHINA WIN was racing just in front of Young Bravo in the run after landing just off the speed from barrier one. Zac Purton was well placed coming to the home turn, and he was able to go from the inside rail, into the clear down the middle of the course. He was always threatening but just missed out on the victory by a bob of the head. Luck Is Back stuck on well to finish in third position as a $26 chance after having the gun run throughout.
Race 7 – Albatross Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.05 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
AMAZING KID (AUS 4yo g Exceed And Excel – Josdesanimaux) turned his form right around, getting the job done as a $12 chance for Andrea Atzeni and John Size. With the aid of the inside barrier, the gelding was able to find a lovely position on settling down, landing on the back of the leader. He had the run of the race in behind, waiting patiently around the turn before sticking to the inside as they swung into the straight. He came up the fence with his run, getting underneath the leader to hit the front with 50m to run and proving too good, winning by a head on the line. MEOWTH had no luck for Jerry Chau, with the local hoop left racing three-wide and without cover after jumping from barrier 12. Chau moved forward down the back of the course to be close to the speed as they turned off the back and continued to creep closer around the turn, with Chau sitting quietly aboard the gelding. He waited until the furlong pole before asking him for an effort and despite the tough run in transit, finished off well, beaten a head. RUN RUN SMART was another who fought gamely after setting the tempo.
Race 8 – Nightjar Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.69 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
CANDLELIGHT DINNER (AUS 5yo g Russian Revolution – I Am Gypsy) returned to winning ways with Maxime Guyon taking the ride. The gelding showed good speed from out wide, rolling forward to get outside the leader as they tuned off the back straight. He was poised to strike on the turn with Guyon waiting until they'd entered the straight to ask for an effort. He ran to the front with 200m to run and shot away with 100m to run to score by 1-1/4 lengths in a very impressive display. HEALTHY HEALTHY landed on the back of the leader from barrier one and enjoyed a cosy run throughout the race. He stuck to the inside on straightening and while he was no match for the winner, he was good late in the race to finish in second position. METRO POWER stuck on well after setting the tempo to finish in third position, 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 9 – Sea Eagle Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.26 Standard Time: 1:39.90 Course/Class record: 1:38.34 Highland Rahy
James McDonald made it a double on the night with A AMERIC TE SPECSO (NZ 7yo g Per Incanto – Island Time) getting the job done, also bringing up a winning double for trainer John Size. He wasn't the fastest into stride but with an inside barrier, McDonald was able to land midfield and along the fence with a solid tempo being set. With a good tempo on offer, there was no change to the order with McDonald sitting patiently to the 400m point. He needed to make up 3-3/4 lengths on straightening, with the gaps opening early in the stretch for McDonald to get to the outside. Once he got clear, he stormed home over the top of his rivals, taking the lead inside the final 100m and drawing away late to score by three quarters of a length. CHILL KAKA had stalked the leader throughout the run after kicking up from the inside barrier. He followed the leader into the straight before coming off his back and taking the lead approaching the final 100m of the race. He didn't hold the lead long as A Americ Te Specso flew by him, but he held on to run second in a photo finish. MIGHTY STEED set the tempo throughout and a strong one at that. He took catching in the straight, finishing just three quarters of a length off the winner in a strong display.
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