Thunder and Crimson can flash home at season finale
HAPPY Valley draws the curtain down for the final time on the 2025/26 season in Hong Kong, when the inner-city track hosts another exciting and competitive nine-race card, starting at 11.30am.
Racegoers have plenty to look forward to during the night, with live entertainment from international stars singing on stage, an unforgettable fireworks display, prize draws, plus a jockeys’ parade and champion trainer presentation all featuring during the meeting.
With the racetrack guaranteed to be packed to capacity, it is paramount spectators leave the Valley for the final time with their pockets full of dollars, and they are recommended to follow the fortunes of THUNDER KIT who lines up in the six-furlong Sun Jewellery Handicap (3.50pm).
This Francis Lui-trained four-year-old has made an encouraging start to his first season in the territory, with a win and three placings from just eight starts.
Although a winner over six furlongs at Sha Tin in May, his most significant performance was his most recent when finishing third to Mr Incredible at Sha Tin at the end of last month.
On that occasion, he found himself with nowhere to go when the tempo increased two furlongs from home, and when he finally extricated himself and dashed for the line, the winner had already flown.
Despite suffering an interrupted passage, he still produced the fastest closing sectional times in the contest, and it is worth pointing out that the winner is on everyone’s shortlist of leading candidates for next season’s Classic Series.
The question mark is he has yet to race around the unique tight turns of Happy Valley. However, his sire Rich Enuff has already produced a number of course winners, and there’s enough to suggest that he should be hard to beat, coming from the all-important gate one and likely to get a trouble-free journey.
Earlier on the card, the feature six-furlong Class Two Lucky Patch Handicap (3.10pm) is all about speed, and sees some of the fastest sprinters in the city clash.
With the field of 11 gallopers having won 24 races between them at the track, luck is going to play an important part in determining the winner and jockeyship will also be crucial.
Front-running trio Victor The Winner, Bottomuptogether and wide drawn Turquoise Velocity are likely to dictate a frenetic speed charge from the off and possibly set the race up for several strong finishers.
The popular CRIMSON FLASH has an impressive course and distance record of three wins from four starts and finally draws a good gate in three having won from that number in the past.
He is closely matched with rival Young Champion on their form in April but is more likely to appreciate the soft underfoot conditions than his rival, who has floundered on a rain-softened surface in the past.
With pilot Andrea Atzeni desperate to overhaul Hugh Bowman in the jockeys’ championship race for the runner-up spot behind Zac Purton, his chance looks bright.
POINTERS
Crimson Flash 3.10pm Happy Valley
Thunder Kit 3.50pm Happy Valley