Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing from Happy Valley is Wednesday at 6:40 a.m. EDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 2 Super Sixty, 10 Savvy Twinkle, 1 Lean Master, 7 Conrad The Great

Race 2: 3 Run Run Timing, 9 Talents Supremo, 8 Colonel, 2 Glory Cloud

Race 3: 3 Gastronomique, 7 Know At Heart, 2 Written Casa, 1 Mega Bonus

Race 4: 3 Denfield, 8 Von Baer, 12 Telecom Power, 4 Rising Phoenix

Race 5: 6 Take Action, 12 Super Sicario, 1 Quantum Patch, 3 Super Unicorn

Race 6: 5 Colourful King, 2 Horsepower, 8 Harmony N Blessed, 9 Youthful Spirits

Race 7: 8 Silver Spurs, 11 Rewarding Twinkle, 5 Gameplayer Elite, 2 Ace Power

Race 8: 5 South Star, 11 Top Time, 9 Ivy League, 3 Star Contact

Race 9: 6 King Lotus, 8 Akashvani, 4 Triumphant More, 2 Sovereign Fund

Race 1 Speedy Handicap

No. 2 Super Sixty looks primed for a bounce-back win third-up following a luckless first-up sixth when held up and a second behind Parents’ Love last start that confirmed he’s trending the right way. No. 10 Savvy Twinkle has been trialing well and the booking of Zac Purton is a key push. He was narrowly beaten by Super Sixty three runs back and gets his chance to turn the tables fresh. No. 1 Lean Master maps for the right run just off the pace from post 2 and should take a step forward second-up after fading late first-up. No. 7 Conrad The Great resumes for just his second start and looks to have come on nicely since his debut, judging by his improved trials. Luke Ferraris sticks with him and he should be able to position up early and give himself every chance.

Race 2 Success Handicap

No. 3 Run Run Timing looks well placed to strike on his first run for the Ricky Yiu stable, stepping down to class 5 for the first time off a strong trial win and drawing ideally in post 1. No. 9 Talents Supremo charged home into second on stable debut for Danny Shum and with blinkers on first time. With Purton taking over second-up, plenty of boxes are ticked. No. 8 Colonel gets back to his preferred course and trip, returns to blinkers, and maps for a soft lead from gate 4. He’s a live chance to lift on recent runs. No. 2 Glory Cloud has held his own in class 4 and now drops to the bottom grade for the first time, where he should be hitting the line well and is one to keep safe.

Race 3 Swifty Handicap, division 1

No. 3 Gastronomique was unwanted in betting on debut for the John Size yard but ran a promising race, only seeing daylight after the 3/16ths and hitting the line well into sixth. He should come on nicely for that experience and looks ready to take the next step. No. 7 Know At Heart hasn’t been far away in two runs this season and looks to get a race shape that suits his late style. No. 2 Written Casa is likely to ease back early from post 10 and be ridden for luck. His first-up 12th was better than it reads, and with expected improvement second-up he can figure if the tempo suits. No. 1 Mega Bonus is one of the pace influences and comes into a much kinder draw than his first-up assignment where he dropped right out. His map position improves significantly here.

Race 4 Swifty Handicap, division 2

No. 3 Denfield has been close up in both runs this season, finding the line strongly each time. He was set a task when positioned last in running last start and will need to map closer to boost his winning chances, but reuniting with Hugh Bowman is a key positive. No. 8 Von Baer has drawn poorly again in gate 12, just as he did at Sha Tin last start where he was strong late into seventh after covering ground early before being restrained. Solid effort and trending the right way. No. 12 Telecom Power maps better this time from post 3 and his first-up and second-up runs have both been encouraging. No. 4 Rising Phoenix gets a jockey upgrade with Purton aboard and looks to lift third-up off two fair runs, though he’ll need early luck stepping from gate 10.

Race 5 Racing Spirit Handicap

No. 6 Take Action was a luckless sixth second-up when held up badly inside the final furlong and unable to be fully tested. He comes into post 2 here with Purton taking over, which should ensure he’s not as far back this time. No. 12 Super Sicario followed up his maiden win in class 5 with a third to Mighty Steed back in class 4, showing he’s up to this grade and has clearly taken the next step this season. No. 1 Quantum Patch is knocking on the door with two placings from as many starts this term and is hard to fault, hard to knock, and sure to get every chance again. No. 3 Super Unicorn draws post 1 and returns to this course and trip after being unsuited on the all-weather last time. Well in class 4 now and can strike any time.

Race 6 Longines Cup

No. 5 Colourful King showed plenty of promise last season winning two from six and gives the impression he’ll be climbing the ratings further this term. He’s been winning his trials impressively and looks ready to fire fresh. No. 2 Horsepower ticks plenty of boxes for his return as a three-time winner from four first-up, and he gets back to this course and trip where he is two-from-two. This is a hot race where nearly every runner has a case, but Purton should give him every hope from post 3. No. 8 Harmony N Blessed can always run a cheeky race at odds and is worth including in exotics as he steps out third-up after a close fourth to his flying stablemate Tomodachi Kokoroe. No. 9 Youthful Spirits drops in weight and while he doesn’t win out of turn, he’s placed 11 times at this course and trip and makes his own luck.

Race Swifty Handicap, division 3

No. 8 Silver Spurs draws ideally in post 1 where he should secure the run of the race and go one place better. After a strong first-up win over five furlongs, he stretched to six furlongs second-up and led everywhere bar the final few strides, only run down late by the progressive Lunar Dash. No. 11 Rewarding Twinkle was only three-quarters of a length off in fifth first-up at Sha Tin and should enjoy returning to Happy Valley where he’s shown a sharp turn of foot in the past. A first career win looks within reach. No. 5 Gameplayer Elite looked in need of the run first-up but wasn’t far off in fifth and should strip fitter now. No. 2 Ace Power had excuses last start when held up late and can improve from gate 3 with a cleaner run.

Race 8 Songs of Victory Handicap

No. 5 South Star had plenty go against him in the run first-up yet still stuck on gamely for second to Beauty Crescent. He now tackles the city circuit for the first time but post 1 ensures Purton can give him the perfect run in transit, and he looks well placed to bounce straight back. No. 11 Top Time finished third in that same race and had every chance. He’s one-from-two at the course and trip and, now third-up, has plenty of race fitness.  No. 9 Ivy League is a solid ride for Richard Kingscote, who gets post 3 aboard Douglas Whyte’s resuming galloper. He ended last season in solid form and his trials for return have been impressive. No. 3 Star Contact had an awkward trip when fading late into fifth last start so it was a better run than it reads, and a low draw boosts his map here.

Race 9 Flying Handicap

No. 6 King Lotus made a big return with a dominant win by nearly two lengths, notching his second career victory at just his fourth start. He now rises to class 3 but looks ready for the challenge, especially with a soft draw in post 2, a slick trial between runs, and the Mark Newnham stable in flying form. No. 8 Akashvani has done little wrong in seven starts and now gets blinkers on, while Purton is an eye-catching booking as he tries Happy Valley for the first time. No. 4 Triumphant More could present decent odds. His form hasn’t been great lately but from post 1, and with a slight gear tweak third-up, he might lift. No. 2 Sovereign Fund didn’t map well last start so his fourth place finish held merit. Barrier 8 doesn’t offer a straightforward run either, but on form, he has to be respected.

Luke Middlebrook is a contributor at Idol Horse. After blogging about the sport for years, he spent eight years in Singapore as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing form and editorial content for racing in Hong Kong and Singapore. Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.