Cruz has Resources to secure Valley gold
RACEGOERS in Hong Kong can look forward to a nine-race programme at Happy Valley on Wednesday where there’s several talented and popular gallopers on show.
Unfortunately, the present wet weather in the territory shows no sign of abating, with showers forecast during the action and umbrellas are likely to be to the fore again.
The trainers’ title race continues to make the headlines in the city, with half-a-dozen stables currently neck-and-neck and only eight winners separating them.
With just 16 fixtures of the season to go, it is anyone’s guess who will come out on top, especially with the lead chopping and changing on a weekly basis.
Danny Shum, the current championship leader on 54 winners, has had an incredible run of success at the Valley recently with a dozen winners over the course of the last six meetings.
Surprisingly, the stable only have a small party of three raiders heading to the Valley. Taihang Scenery in the five-furlong Celosia Handicap (11.40am) is their best chance of success, with Win Method in the Hyacinth Handicap (2.45pm) over the extended mile also likely to go close.
The Francis Lui stable has surged up the table in the past fortnight and reached a half century of winswith a treble at Sha Tin last Sunday. His Superb King is well-drawn and has a winning opportunity in division two of the six-furlong Dendrobium Handicap (2.10pm), having had no luck with outside gates recently.
Stable companion Winning Money, a course and distance victor back in January, still looks well-rated in the five-furlong Ewo Challenge Trophy Handicap (1.40pm), but is unlikely to beat the Tony Cruz-trained TYCOON RESOURCES.
This son of Written Tycoon won on his debut last month, posting a good time in the process and looks sure to step up in class in the future.
With a good gate five in his favour, he looks set for an ideal journey and should prove too strong for his opposition.
Trainer David Hayes, who currently lies fifth in the trainers’ table and six wins behind Danny Shum, will be looking for a change of luck. At present, he’s on a current losing sequence of 46, stretching back to the end of last month.
The stable, however, is always likely to bounce back to form at any time, and CHATEAUNEUF is capable of a surprise in the competitive six-furlong Violet Handicap (3.15pm). His recent form figures may not look inspiring, but he now drops down in class again having won in this company inNovember.
Close scrutiny of the form book shows that he has won his last three races when breaking from stall one, his body weight is similar to when he won in November, and he is two pounds below his last winning mark.
Add the fact that jockey Luke Ferraris has won on him in the past and all the stars look to have aligned for him to bounce back to form.
POINTERS
Tycoon Resources 1.40pm Happy Valley
Chateauneuf e/w 3.15pm Happy Valley