Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Lunar Zephyr can bring Ryan Moore HK success
HAPPY Valley hosts its most prestigious event of the year this afternoon with the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship.
A dozen riders, including the likes of Ryan Moore, Hugh Bowman and Christophe Lemaire, will compete in four races, with the winner taking home a valuable £50,000 in prize-money.
It’s hard to imagine a more spectacular venue, with the Valley’s floodlit track, surrounded by Hong Kong’s famous skyscrapers.
With around 20,000 passionate racing fans descending on the inner-city track, there will be live music, entertainment, fireworks and the renowned ‘Beer Garden’ packed with spectators cheering on their favourite horse or jockey from just a few feet away.
Since the Happy Valley circuit is so sharp, it will be difficult for jockeys such as Irish champion Colin Keane and legendary US rider Javier Castellano to get the fractions spot-on when riding at the track for the first time.
The likes of Bowman (winner of the IJC in 2016), Moore (who shared the spoils with Lemaire in 2009 and who won the title outright the following year) and reigning champ Zac Purton all have the experience, which will go a long way to determining who will lift the trophy.
It’s been a recurring theme at Happy Valley this season that nearly half the winners have come from horses drawn between one and three.
With racing taking place on the ‘B’ course, expect a similar bias, especially if horses drawn low can find the rails.
The final bend into the home straight is very tight, meaning horses coming from behind will have to go wide and will give away valuable ground.
One horse who has all the advantages going for him, is the Ryan Moore-ridden LUNAR ZEPHYR who lines up in the 5f dash at 12.10pm.
This former track-and-trip winner has had little go right for him in recent races, having either been drawn wide or enduring an interrupted passage horses drawn between one and three.
With racing taking place on the ‘B’ course, expect a similar bias, especially if horses drawn low can find the rails.
The final bend into the home straight is very tight, meaning horses coming from behind will have to go wide and will give away valuable ground.
One horse who has all the advantages going for him, is the Ryan Moore-ridden LUNAR ZEPHYR who lines up in the 5f dash at 12.10pm.
This former track-and-trip winner has had little go right for him in recent races, having either been drawn wide or enduring an interrupted passage during racing.
His one success at the track came back in October, when after breaking smartly from the stalls, he raced handily throughout and then proved too strong for his rivals in the closing stages.
This time he has been allocated the all-important one draw, allowing Moore to glide along the rails just off the frantic early speed, and then make his bid for glory down the home straight.
Another horse who has been gifted the prime inside draw is last-start winner ELECTRIC LIGHTNING who seeks to defy a 6lb penalty in the 2.10pm over the extended mile.
This five-year-old is still progressing and looked the winner from some way out, when shooting clear in the closing stages over course and distance in October.
He now steps up in class after that success, but is mapped for an ideal journey here, while his closing sectional times are far superior to the opposition.
It is also an added bonus that the ‘Mauritian Magician’, Karis Teetan, who rode Electric Lightning to victory last season, had his name drawn out of the box to ride the gelding. For anyone looking for an attractive longshot in the race, keep an eye on The Judge. He is near his best again.
POINTERS
Lunar Zephyr e/w 12.10pm Happy Valley
Electric Lightning 2.10pm Happy Valley