Derby Trail Forums - 10/5 (HK): Declan Schuster's Happy Valley Wednesday

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, October 06, 2021)

Race 1: #2 Methane, #5 Red Elysees, #1 Savvy Kingman, #3 Murray’s Partners
Race 2: #6 This Is Charisma, #3 Sparkling Star, #2 On Excel Star, #5 M M Johnny
Race 3: #8 Noir Rider, #3 Happy Tango, #1 Happy Good Guys, #4 My My My
Race 4: #9 Yoo Yoo King, #1 Wealthy Delight, #4 Turin Redstar, #3 Superbella
Race 5: #3 Winmore Star, #1 Aurora Pegasus, #6 Happy Time, #5 Good Shot
Race 6: #6 Faithful Trinity, #2 Nunchuks, #7 Chater Pins, #9 Smart Wongchoy
Race 7: #6 Melbourne Hall, #3 Fortune Carrier, #2 Xponential, #11 Spicy Grill
Race 8: #4 Transcendent, #3 Classic Posh, #2 Kinda Cool, #7 Jolly Good Heart
Race 9: #7 Solar Wai Wai, #1 Reliable Team, #2 Not Usual Talent, #9 Kilindini

Race 1: Luard Handicap

#2 Methane is nothing short of consistent. He’s in-form and appears to have returned in excellent order this campaign. He can secure a well-deserved win here. #5 Red Elysees is competitive in his spot. He’s racing off a winnable mark and the booking of Zac Purton bears close watching. #1 Savvy Kingman closed off nicely first-up. Expect improvement here with Joao Moreira retaining the ride. #3 Murray’s Partners is better than his first-up performance suggests. He can return to form.

Race 2: O’Brien Handicap

#6 This Is Charisma closed off nicely last start from the rear of the field. He finally draws a gate which should give him every chance to turn his fortune around. #3 Sparkling Star is better than his record suggests. He can be a factor here if he can offset the wide ally. #2 On Excel Star trialled impressively at Conghua and he could make his presence felt first-up. Gate four suits and chances are he rolls forward. #5 M M Johnny gets Zac Purton’s services. Keep safe.

Race 3: Jaffe Handicap

#8 Noir Rider is yet to win but he has gone close a number of times. Suspect Zac Purton takes him forward and as an excellent judge of pace, he should get his chance to keep finding under the champion jockey. #3 Happy Tango has consistency on his side. Don’t discount here and he too should be favoured racing close to the speed. #1 Happy Good Guys improved last start back in Class 4. He can improve further and is aided by apprentice Jerry Chau’s five-pound claim. #4 My My My shouldn’t too far away.

Race 4: Harbour Handicap

#9 Yoo Yoo King looks to have come on since switching yards and his first-up effort to grab third was impressive. Suspect he can continue to build on that form and he rates strongly with the light weight too. #1 Wealthy Delight has a class-edge and Zac Purton engaged. #4 Turin Redstar won well first-up for his new trainer, Douglas Whyte. Don’t be surprised if he strings another one together here. #3 Superbella has class and can be devastating on his day. Expect improvement second-up.

Race 5: Johnston Handicap

#3 Winmore Star steps out for his second start. He caught the eye in a recent trial and he appears forward enough to make his presence felt first-up. #1 Aurora Pegasus draws gate two. He’s well-weighted for this with the apprentice taking seven pounds off. #6 Happy Time can string two wins together. He won well last time out and deserves respect in his spot here. #5 Good Shot is now with his second trainer. Zac Purton hops up and he might be value here, dependent on his price and if so is worth supporting.

Race 6: Lockhart Handicap

#6 Faithful Trinity is expected to roll forward and play catch me if you can. Joao Moreira takes over now and with race-fitness on his side he should prove tough to beat. #2 Nunchuks is consistent and is aided by gate one. He should get a nice run and every chance in the finish. #7 Chater Pins performed well first-up to finish a fast-closing fourth. He’s well-weighted and competitive in this grade. Don’t discount. #9 Smart Wongchoy has consistency on his side. Next best.

Race 7: Johnston Handicap

#6 Melbourne Hall did well first-up to finish a close-up second. He draws favourably and only needs to repeat last start to be incredibly competitive here. #3 Fortune Carrier got off the mark in style last time out. He can challenge this lot and is favoured from gate one. #2 Xponential mixes his form but does own a very slick personal best over this course and distance. He’s holding his form and is favoured with the apprentice aboard. #11 Spicy Grill slots in light as a last-start winner. He just needs to handle the class-rise.

Race 8: Gloucester Handicap

#4 Transcendent loves the course and distance. He’s third-up, so with race-fitness on his side he could prove very hard to beat. #3 Classic Posh is in career-best form with two wins from his last three starts. Zac Purton sticks aboard and he won’t need to improve too much to beat this field. #2 Kinda Cool mixes his form but does have a bit of class. Joao Moreira’s booking commands respect. #7 Jolly Good Heart went back-to-back at his final two runs of last campaign. He too commands respect.

Race 9: Fleming Handicap

#7 Solar Wai Wai loves the course and distance. He races well fresh and is paired with familiar ally Matthew Poon for a suitable contest. He’s a winner in the grade above and with the right run he could take catching. #1 Reliable Team shapes as the likely leader. He can kick on from the front and give a very good account of himself. #2 Not Usual Talent just needs to offset the wide ally. #9 Kilindini steps out first-up. He’s a South African Group 1 winner who has the class to be ultra-competitive, the only query is his fitness.