Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, PPs

Hong Kong racing is at Happy Valley Wednesday morning at 5:40 a.m. EST. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 8 Draco, 4 Apolar Fighter, 3 Handsome Bomb, 11 Perfecto Moments

Race 2: 7 Sky Song, 8 Talents Supremo, 12 Double Bingo, 10 Riding High

Race 3: 4 Amazing Gaze, 2 Beauty Glory, 3 Aeroinvincible, 8 Bull Attitude

Race 4: 1 Quantum Patch, 5 Take Action, 10 Glorious Ryder, 3 Charming Steed

Race 5: 2 Robot Lucky Star, 7 Star Figure, 1 Alabama Song, 8 Silver Spurs

Race 6: 4 California Bay, 1 Pejibaye, 5 Looks Outstanding, 9 Proud Box

Race 7: 1 Chateauneuf, 11 Fun Elite, 4 King Miles, 7 Lucky Eight

Race 8: 4 Wrote A New Page, 10 Charity Gain, 7 Liveandletlive, 2 Excellence Value

Race 9: 10 Huge Wave, 5 Soleil Fighter, 1 Speed Dragon, 11 Sky Heart

Race 1, Bedford Handicap

No. 8 Draco makes his debut for the Brett Crawford yard after transferring from Ricky Yiu and can make an immediate impact. He finally draws a middle gate after several wide posts, trialed strongly between runs, and gets the services of Zac Purton. No. 4 Apolar Fighter broke through impressively third-up and has trialed well since. With a race shape likely to favour him, he is set to get every opportunity to go close again. No. 3 Handsome Bomb drops to Class 5 for the first time and maps to enjoy a soft run from post 2. His last-start seventh came after being forced into an early move that didn’t suit, so improvement is expected. No. 11 Perfecto Moments returns to a better course and trip after struggling over 1 1/8 miles last start. From post 1, he can replicate his earlier second here.

Race 2, Cheong Wan Handicap

No. 7 Sky Song gets his chance to bounce back, returning to the course and distance of his sole career win. He draws perfectly in post 1, drops to Class 5, and fourth-up should be at peak fitness to make his presence felt. No. 8 Talents Supremo has turned a corner since joining Danny Shum and with the blinkers applied, finishing a close second first-up before an easy win last start. He remains the one they’ll have to beat. No. 12 Double Bingo continues to race well without winning, with a string of placings to his name. He lost ground at the start when flashing home for third last time and can settle closer from this draw to boost his chances. No. 10 Riding High draws much better this time after racing wide last start from a tough gate. A smoother run should see him more competitive. 

Race 3, Cheung Shun Handicap

No. 4 Amazing Gaze is an untapped 4-year-old who showed plenty of promise first-up when finishing second to Sturdy Ruby over this course and trip at just his second career start. With improvement to come and post 1 to work with, he is well placed to go one better. No. 2 Beauty Glory has been knocking on the door all campaign, finishing close-up in three runs, and from the inside draw in a race lacking genuine speed, he should enjoy a soft lead and give a sight. No. 3 Aeroinvincible draws much better in mid-field this time after working from wide posts in both runs this season. He’s been consistent and should get his preferred on-pace position here. No. 8 Bull Attitude makes his Happy Valley debut in solid form, having won his maiden impressively two back before running on late for fourth from a wide draw. He’s capable of featuring again.

Race 4, The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce 125th Anniversary Cup

No. 1 Quantum Patch has post 11 to overcome, but with little early speed on paper, he should be able to press forward and find a handy spot with cover. He’s been knocking on the door since dropping to Class 4, and his last-start fourth carried merit after making a mid-race move. No. 5 Take Action is trending the right way, following an unlucky sixth second-up with a strong third last time. Blinkers go on for the first time, and he looks ready to go. No. 10 Glorious Ryder produced his best run to date when third to Fantastic Fun with the blinkers on for the first time, a form reference that has since aged well. No. 3 Charming Steed has been ridden quietly in recent outings, but without a clear leader, he can revert to his front-running style, which could make him hard to run down. 

Race 5, Fat Tseung Handicap

No. 2 Robot Lucky Star looks a horse going places this season after breaking through impressively down the Sha Tin straight at only his second start. He faces a new test stepping to six furlongs, but his trial over this track and trip before resuming was impressive and clocked in good time, suggesting he’ll handle it comfortably. No. 7 Star Figure maps ideally from post 3 and looks primed to go one better after a strong second last start when crowded for room late and beaten only a neck. No. 1 Alabama Song faded late into fifth first-up but will strip much fitter for the run. With the John Size stable starting to hit form, he looks set to take a step forward. No. 8 Silver Spurs has a tougher draw this time after enjoying inside gates in his recent runs, but his consistency can’t be faulted, and he’ll be right there if the race shape suits.

Race 6, Fat Tseung Handicap, div 2

No. 4 California Bay is a fascinating runner with blinkers going on for the first time and post 1 in his favor. He arrives off an all-weather trial win in fast time, and with market support since dropping to Class 4, this looks his chance to deliver. No. 1 Pejibaye made a strong impression first-up with a dominant win on his stable debut for Caspar Fownes. The wide draw in post 10 makes things trickier, but he appears a horse still on the rise. No. 5 Looks Outstanding was a convincing three-length winner first-up over this course and trip, and from post 4 he maps well just behind the speed. If the leaders overdo it, he’ll be poised to strike again. No. 9 Proud Box has drawn wide in both career starts and will appreciate a kinder gate here. His debut run hinted at ability, and he’s capable of improving third-up.

Race 7, Fife Handicap

No. 1 Chateauneuf gets conditions to suit third-up, returning to Happy Valley while reuniting with Zac Purton and drawing post 1, where he last won by over two lengths five starts ago. He looks ready to strike again. No. 11 Fun Elite can give a bold sight for Britney Wong. With little speed on paper, he maps to roll forward and should be competitive fresh for his new stable under Michael Chang, having looked well in recent trials. No. 4 King Miles broke through first-up with blinkers applied for the first time, snapping a run of placings, and looks capable of holding that form. No. 7 Lucky Eight faces a wide draw, but with little early speed in the race, he could press forward and make his own luck, similar to his Sha Tin run two starts back when third to Bulb General. 

Race 8, Hing Yip Handicap

No. 4 Wrote A New Page looks ready to go one better after a game second to Excellence Value last start, where he struck trouble mid-race and had to be steadied before picking up again late. The booking of James McDonald is a major plus, and with a smoother trip, he’ll be hard to hold out. No. 10 Charity Gain was first-up in that same race and found the line strongly for third. With post 1 and added fitness second-up, he is primed to run another big race. No. 7 Liveandletlive maps for a comfortable run from post 3 and should give his usual honest sight on the pace. He was only beaten a couple of lengths last start after working hard mid-race and can improve with a softer tempo. No. 2 Excellence Value chases back-to-back wins over this lot and impressed in a recent trial when taken back and hitting the line strongly. Barrier 11 is the challenge. 

Race 9, Shing Yip Handicap

No. 10 Huge Wave makes his Happy Valley debut and looks well placed second-up after an encouraging fifth first-up against a strong Sha Tin field. He made a mid-race move before peaking late, and that effort should bring him on nicely for this. With added fitness and a kiner race shape, he can make his presence felt. No. 5 Soleil Fighter is a genuine on-pace type who should appreciate drawing better after two wide posts to start the season. Back to his preferred course and trip third-up, he profiles well. No. 1 Speed Dragon resumed from a lengthy spell with a powerful win over 1 1/8 miles and will be charging home again if the tempo plays into his hands. No. 11 Sky Heart adds speed to the race and can improve with a smoother trip after working early from post 13 last start when weakening late but not beaten far.

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.