Best Bets | Happy Valley, 06 April 2022

Money Catcher | (Happy Valley Race 4 No.2) / Telecom Fighters | (Happy Valley Race 4 No.1)

This Class 2 is the feature of the night. There looks to be an average pace that is going to suit both Money Catcher and Telecom Fighters, as they will likely sit 1-2 in the run. Money Catcher has been running in Group 1’s behind California Spangle and Romantic Warrior, finishing third in both races, two lengths, and 2.5 lengths respectively. He remains the same weight with a major class drop and maps to get a nice run. If he brings his recent form, he wins. Telecom Fighters is going to get a soft lead and I love the step up to 1800m and the addition of Zac Purton. Forget last start on the all-weather as he is much better on the turf, especially at Happy Valley. Last time he was here two starts ago, he ran a half-length second to Cheerful Days. If he can get some soft sectionals, he is going to be hard to run down.

Suggested bet: 1.5 units @ $2.70 / 1 unit @ $4.20

Whizz Kid | (Happy Valley Race 1 No.4)

Nice little sprint race to start the evening and despite the wide draw, I don’t mind Whizz Kid. He has the gate speed to get across easily and I really like him going around the bend here at Happy Valley. The last time and only time he did, he ran super and beat home Lightning Storm, Run Run Cool, and Like That. Last start he was beaten when $1.60 favourite up the Sha Tin straight, running second by around half a length. The top three in that race beat the rest of the field by a big margin, so the form may just stack up okay. I expect another solid run as the worst he has run in nine starts are two-fourths and they were over 1200m. He will be hard to catch and the price will dictate whether this is a bet or not.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $2.00

King Dragon | (Happy Valley Race 2 No.4) / Super Hong Kong | (Happy Valley Race 2 No.3)

These staying races can do your head in and this one was no easier. King Dragon ran brilliantly behind Packing Famous last start over the 1800m as he backed up his start prior where he was equally as good running third to Nothing Impossible and rival Super Hong Kong. 2200m is the test but he is drawn well to do little work in a race with zero pace. I expect him to run a big race with rival Super Hong Kong, who looks as though 2200m would be right up his alley. The draw is a slight concern but if the pace works out the way I think, Ruan Maia may just want to sit handier and if he does, he is going to fight out this finish.

Suggested bet: 0.5 unit @ $8.00 / 0.7 unit @ $6.00

Amazing Boy | (Happy Valley Race 3 No.5)

Not a fan of this Class 5, looks a bit of a mess. I went with Amazing Boy who ran a credible fifth behind Diamond Star, Smiling Face, and Anonyma. It was a race where Teetan took off early on Smiling Face and Moreira followed him on Diamond Star and caught the others off guard. IN the end, they saluted comfortably from the rest, thanks to the mid-race move. He only meets Smiling Face 0.5kg better off at the weights, whereas Diamond Star, he meets 3kg better off. The draw and map aren’t ideal but he can run a cheeky race if Hamelin makes the right move at the right time.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $8.00

Noble One | (Happy Valley Race 5 No.5) / Oversubscribed | (Happy Valley Race 5 No.8)

I have simply loved the trials of Noble One. Not so much the last trial but I am willing to ignore it as it was on the all-weather over 1200m, and he only weakened late chasing home a Class 1 horse and a dirt specialist at that. In the trial prior, he went with Sakewin all the way up the straight, which is tremendous form after seeing what he did on Sunday. The issue is the draw and the fact there is a lot of pace but Purton is the best man for the job, and if he can get a nice run throughout, he can win on debut. Oversubscribed was all but the winner when we were on him last start only to be pipped on the line, on a rainy night. A similar draw means a similar run, and with luck, he is in the finish again.

Suggested bet: 0.7 unit @ $6.00 / 0.7 unit @ $6.00

Dr.Winning | (Happy Valley Race 6 No.7) / Killer Instinct | (Happy Valley Race 6 No.6)

Willing to give Dr.Winning another chance here after his brilliant performance last start over 1800m. He finished a tight second in which he beat home some nice horses at his first go at the distance. He comes back to his preferred 1650m at the Valley and maps to get a dream run. If he can run up to his previous figures here, he can be right in the finish. Killer Instinct is the other I don’t mind from the ideal draw. He had his first go over 1650m last start behind some tough horses, and he ended up being wide without cover for almost half the race. He managed to finish a sixth length sixth placing which isn’t disgraceful considering the run he had. He gets Alexis Badel on, draws the inside, and looks to do no work throughout. I am expecting a cheeky run and he could come up with some big odds.

Suggested bet: 0.9 unit @ $4.80 / 0.5 unit @ $9.50

Whiskey Neat | (Happy Valley Race 7 No.10)

This is another race where the horses’ form hasn’t really reflected how good he has been running. He had a bit of an awkward run two back at this track and distance, getting awkwardly placed around the 700m mark, before finishing off the race well, finishing just over two lengths back in seventh behind horses like Toronado Phantom and My Ecstatic. Despite not liking the ground last start, he managed a 2.75 length eighth behind Packing Treadmill and Fun N Glory, which is terrific form for this. He has drawn beautifully, carries no weight with Chan’s claim, and maps to be second on the rail. I think he will run a big race.

Suggested bet: 0.6 unit @ $7.50

Flaming Passion | (Happy Valley Race 9 No.6) / Star Brite | (Happy Valley Race 9 No.4)

Good little race to end the night. Flaming Passion went with Lucky Sweynesse on a rainy night at the Valley recently in a race where I think the form will stand up nicely. He just got a touch tired lately chasing the speedy winner, finishing 1.12 lengths back in third, but beating the rest of the field home by almost 3.5 lengths. He is drawn okay to sit prominently and with even luck, he can run another big race. Star Brite is coming off a comical run, in which Purton and Moreira took each other on throughout the first half to three-quarters of the race. Despite this, this bloke kept fighting, finishing 0.38 of a length in third whilst the other horse he was taken on by, was the favourite Armour Eagle, who finished 1.5 lengths back in seventh. Star Brite ran the quickest sectionals to the 400m and 200m of the entire meeting, showing you how fast he was going. Moreira off for Purton here, and a much better draw out of barrier one. He will be in the finish again.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.50 / 1.4 units @ $2.90

Total Units Used: 10.1 units