Hong Kong racing returns to Happy Valley tonight with a nine-race card.
The weather continues to be wet and cold, so the ground will have give in it again.
It will also be the finale for the Million Challenge. Fa Fa is the leader with 60 points but will not race today.
Special M (Race 6) with 48 points is in second place and Cheerful Days (Race 8) with 45 points is in fourth place.
If Special M was to win today, he will receive 15 points and win the challenge.
An interesting night of racing is ahead.
Sparky Star is a talented horse but has suffered from multiple injury setbacks over his career.
At his peak, he placed in Saturday grade two seasons ago.
This 6YO has recently joined the Benno Yung stable.
Benno is a star at managing injuries and returning horses to the top level of performance.
First up this gelding showed good acceleration, running 2nd over 1400m at this track.
He strips fitter second up and will appreciate the rise to 1650m.
This distance range will be perfect for him, given his breeding out of High Chaparral.
Jockey Jerry Chau will be on board and with Sparky Star only carrying 116 lbs, this looks a brilliant combination to break his maiden status.
This former Australian horse was named Talladega.
Before being sold to Hong Kong he was mighty impressive, winning 4 from 4 in Western Australia.
In his first season abroad, he did not race well, and was found to be carrying a small injury.
This Sebring gelding was given time to mature and has since turned 5.
In this new campaign he has been more consistent, claiming 2 wins and a placing from his 3 starts this season.
Last start he raced at Happy Valley for the first time, winning by 3 lengths.
He beat multiple course and distance experts like Sunny Star and Solar Wai Wai, adding merit to the performance.
It showed he is suited to the city circuit and is well placed under Zac Purton to make it back to back wins.
I go to the beginning of the card with Champion Pal, a 6YO son of Niagara but lightly raced for his age with 16 career starts.
A two-time winner in his native New Zealand, this selection is 0-10 in Hong Kong. However, he is knocking on the door for Paul O’Sullivan and was just denied over this course and distance on his penultimate start.
With Zac Purton in the irons for the first time and from barrier 2, he’ll get every chance to produce that breakthrough win on his 11th local start.
Go Ballistic rates a threat under another excellent Aussie in Daniel Moor but I’m taking Purton to get on the board early.
Daniel Moor can hit the target on Carroll Street, a lightly raced son of Outreach off a lovely low weight.
The Douglas Whyte trained 4YO is 4 from 9 and while all wins have come over the 1000m at Sha Tin, he has proved effective over the turning sprint track at Happy Valley.
He was never closer than 5th on his last start after being hampered early doors by the eventual winner Grateful Heart.
On that evidence he will appreciate the return to 1200m.
Carroll Street has raced once over this course and distance, running a hugely encouraging 5th from the widest gate.
Barrier 9 isn't as bad as it seems. He will drift back and be stored up for a late charge right over the top of them.