Trackwork notes for the other opening day.... the happiest place on earth, Happy Valley!
RACE ONE, RATED 60-40 (C4), 1,000 METRES
Choice And Chance is always hard to beat when he drops back to C4 and has prepared for this with some nice pieces of work and a pleasing barrier trial. Perfect Treasure has done a number of nice workouts and has been travelling so easily that he's been changing leads to relieve the boredom. Insider has done some nice work and his final gallop was down the riverside, solo, on Thursday. Amazing Choisir has had a full preparation and seems to have improved during the break, while Keen Soul took the eye in one particular piece of work under Felix Coetzee last week.
RACE TWO, RATED 60-40 (C4), 1,650 METRES
Hold Hands has been given a full complement of work by Caspar Fownes and seems to be coming to hand nicely. King Of Fish isn't a grand mover at the best of times but is pretty sound at the moment and worked fairly fluently, by his own standards at least in his final gallop under Douglas Whyte. There was plenty to like about the way Spaced found the line in his barrier trial last Friday week. Chinook doesn't win out of turn but his back straight gallop on turf, Monday, was as good as he's gone in ages.
RACE THREE, RATED 40-20 (C5), 1,200 METRES
China Sportfield has lost two races here on protest and has prepped for this with a series of strong gallops. Dragon Stride is "flying" in his work and probably hasn't gone better for two years. Douglas Whyte has been riding him in his work and he looks ready to go. Touch Down went down the riverside on Thursday with Sunday's runner-up Mythic Steed and went very well with trainer Michael Chang on board. Strike To Win has also been working stylishly and caught the eye with his fast riverside on Thursday.
RACE FOUR, RATED 60-40 (C4), 1,200 METRES
Super Goal Master is a nice young horse destined for bigger things. He's had a full complement of work, plus a trial and is ready for his return. Happy Elite has been brought along steadily - his trial was sound and assistant trainer Raymond Tsui never let him off the bridle on Monday. Magic King may have sufficient speed to offset his wide barrier and if that is so, he's certainly done enough good quality work to present himself as a winning chance. Kingston Marble looks a big "pretty" but has a real bloom at present and could run well fresh - last week's trial has definitely improved him.
RACE FIVE, RATED 60-40 (C4), 1,650 METRES
Harry Harry is smart on his day and trainer Manfred Man has certainly stuck the work into him for his return. Key Winner broke through at the end of last season and his work and general appearance suggest he's ready to run a race first-up. Chater De Lago went well in an all-weather trial and is fitter for three gallops subsequently. Perseverence has been a star worker and hasn't put a foot wrong in this preparation. Aurelian zoomed down the 400m on Sunday and looks very forward in condition.
RACE SIX, RATED 80-60 (C3), 1,000 METRES
Classa For Ever is always hard to beat once he takes the drop back in grade and has been showing all his usual speed in recent work. Good To Go looked very good in his September 1 trial, and could easily have won instead of finishing second to Favourite Supreme. Har Har Charms, unusually for a John Size-trained horse, had a riverside gallop under Douglas Whyte on Thursday and then moved nicely with the trainer on board, Sunday. Winning Fellowship had boundless energy as he charged down the straight 800m of the riverside gallop, Thursday, under Brett Prebble. Wine Win looked very fit at the end of his Sunday gallop on the AWT.
RACE SEVEN, RATED 80-60 (C3), 1,650 METRES
Liaobuqi is very fit for his return to racing and has been given a full preparation of gallops, plus a trial. Award has worked in his usual manner and he too has undergone a full complement of work. Multi Millions has done a number of attractive pieces, with Gerald Mosse on board. Kowloon Fit is very forward in condition and there has been plenty to like about the way he's been going. Connoisseur's Love has caught the eye with his healthy general appearance, while Miraculous flew down the back straight on turf, Monday, stretching out very well for Felix Coetzee.
RACE EIGHT, RATED 100-80 (C2), 1,200 METRES
Sanziro has worked strongly and made nice ground in a recent 1,050m barrier trial on the all-weather. Grand Supreme has done plenty of work and trialled very nicely at Sha Tin last Friday before being shut down in the final 200m. Easy was doing handstands in a straight 1,000m trial on September 1 and simply loafed along in a turf gallop on Monday with stablemate Seasons Knack. Bear Macho looks very well, has done a full complement of work and Eric Saint-Martin has been on board him the last five gallops.