Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Precious Sweetie can prove to be a treat for punters
RACING takes place on the dreaded Happy Valley ‘ C+3’ course today.
The inner-city venue has seven different tracks, with the rails moved from meeting to meeting.
With racing taking place weekly throughout the season, this allows the grass to grow normally without too much wear on each track.
The C+3 course is the tightest of all the circuits, with just under a cricket-pitch width of 22 yards and a home straight measuring just over one-and-a-half furlongs.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you that horses need to be up with the early pace from the off, and it’s very difficult for jockeys who are riding horses with renowned strong finishes to weave an uninterrupted passage down the short home straight.
Statistically, the inside draw is the golden number, although horses can win from high stalls as long as they don’t use up too much petrol getting a good position from the off.
Another factor to consider this afternoon is a local weather forecast calling for heavy showers and thunderstorms.
This could clearly have a bearing on ground conditions come race-time.
One horse that did us a good turn three weeks ago was the Peter Ho-trained PRECIOUS SWEETIE who lines-up again in the 1.15pm over six furlongs.
This progressive four-year-old confirmed earlier promise with a clearcut win against similar opposition over course and distance and, despite a 7lb penalty, is certainly capable of successfully following up.
The draw looks awkward on paper, but he has displayed sufficient early speed to find a good spot just behind the leaders from the off and then unleash his thundering late dash down the home straight.
The most intriguing contest of the afternoon is the 2.45pm, a highly-competitive Class 3 handicap over the extended mile.
This looks like a similar renewal of a course-and-distance contest three weeks ago, when Big Bang Bong just held fast-finishing Racing Luck, with Har Har Heart a close-up fourth, and Magnetism sixth.
At the revised weights, they are all closely matched on that form, although well-drawn Big Bang Bong, who has a profile of racing up with the pace from the off, is capable of going close again, despite his 5lb penalty.
Trainer Caspar Fownes, whose yard have gone through a quiet period over the last six weeks, looks to be coming back to form judged on his stable’s recent performers.
He saddles top-weight GREEN LUCK here, a surprise winner over course and distance back in November, who then had his sights raised when taking on the likes of Hong Kong Derby winner Furore, HK Classic Cup victor Mission Control and Group Two winner Waikuku.
Although not troubling the judge in those contests, he performed creditably and was then put away for a two-month break.
He recently trialled okay over six furlongs as a prep for this contest and then did a searching gallop on Monday to bring him to his peak.
From an inside draw, and with jockey Zac Purton back in the saddle, the omens are looking good, especially as he shows his best form when racing just behind the early speed.
A drop down in class is another advantage and he is capable of resuming winning ways.
POINTERS
Precious Sweetie 1.15pm Happy Valley
Green Luck 2.45pm Happy Valley