Exciting sprinter Horsepower possesses a huge engine and at Happy Valley on Wednesday he is aiming to find another gear when he rises in grade for the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Wan Chai Gap Handicap under Zac Purton for trainer Frankie Lor.
Horsepower goes up in grade at Happy Valley this week (Pic – HKJC)
The Harry Angel gelding has three wins from four starts in Hong Kong – each time over 1000m in Class 3. The four-year-old, who breaks from barrier six on Wednesday, is owned by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chairman Michael Lee, his wife Vanessa and daughter Amelia.
Lor said: “This time we need to try 1200m. At the moment there are no more 1000m races at Happy Valley. I’ve trialled him once over 1200, when fifth to Beauty Waves on 22 May at Sha Tin. He trialled good.
“I think he needs to relax in the early stages and then he can finish strongly. Jockey Zac Purton said he was more relaxed now in the 1200 metre trial. That’s why I think he will handle 1200 now.”
The bay has netted HK$4.62 million. He faces Son Pak Fu (134lb), Aurora Lady (129lb), Tomodachi Kokoroe (129lb), Gustosisimo (128lb), Wonder Kit (125lb), Kaholo Angel (124lb), Mid Winter Wind (124lb), Stellar Express (124lb), Brave Star (123lb), Colourful King (123lb) and Harmony N Blessed (120lb) in the quality nightcap at Happy Valley.
The 12-runner line-up has combined for 24 wins this season. Joint top-rater Tomodachi Kokoroe is the only runner without victory this campaign, while four are last-start winners: Horsepower, Kaholo Angel, Stellar Express and Harmony N Blessed.
Caspar Fownes saddles grey Kaholo Angel, who reappears in Class 2 after two recent wins in Class 3. Apprentice Ellis Wong, 24, rode five winners in May and is back aboard this week.
“He’s raced well all season. He’s a very honest horse but it’s a big test now rated 85 and in Class 2. I think it’s going to be quite tough for him really,” Fownes said. “It is a hot race and Eustace’s horse, Colourful King, has been flying and should be very competitive.”
Colourful King plunged into the depths of Class 2 on 30 April, finishing second to Glory Elite. David Eustace’s young son of Blue Point reunites with Andrea Atzeni for another crack at the grade as well as his first attempt racing over 1200m – just like Horsepower tomorrow.
“I’m really happy with him. He has a nice draw (4) and I think he is ready to go up in distance now,” Atzeni said. “It’s a very competitive field. He’s only a three-year-old, but if we can get a good trip around, he should be very competitive. His trial was really good – I’m looking forward to getting on him.”
Colourful King has won twice at Happy Valley (Pic – HKJC)
Earlier, Atzeni pairs with Giant Leap in the Class 3 Stanley Gap Handicap for Ricky Yiu, who trained seven winners in May to enhance his tally to 47 – third in the season’s standings behind John Size (60) and David Hayes (53). Giant Leap finished first in a barrier trial on Sha Tin’s dirt course by a hard-held four lengths with Atzeni up on 22 May.
“His trial was very good, so hopefully there’s a little bit more improvement. It was quite a hot trial, too. There were a couple of decent horses in it,” Atzeni said. “He managed to jump well and he’s a horse with plenty of speed. He felt to me that he has improved, which he’ll probably need to being up in the handicap again.”
Midori Fuji – trained by Eustace – seeks a breakthrough success in Hong Kong after consecutive second placings when he contests the Class 4 Shouson Hill Handicap.
“He’s been very consistent. He probably hasn’t had a lot of luck and he hasn’t had a lot of luck with the barrier (10) for Wednesday either,” Eustace said. “He’s shown he can finish off well with a smooth run and I just hope the pace is on. He ticks a lot of boxes but he’ll need luck from the barrier.”
Mark Newnham leads the unofficial 2024/25 trainers’ championship at Happy Valley on 22 wins ahead of Tony Cruz (21 wins), Caspar Fownes (21) and Douglas Whyte (18).
“I’ve got Caspar Fownes and Tony Cruz breathing down my neck. They have a little more Happy Valley experience than I have but I think it’s just about picking the right horses to run there and getting your tactics right – that’s an essential part of winning at Happy Valley,” Newnham said.
Newnham is represented by Excellence Value in the Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap as well as six others across the programme.
Newnham, 57, said: “Excellence Value has been really consistent all season. His form at Happy Valley has been good. He’s a very easy horse to train and manage, he holds his weight well and he’s an easy horse in the mornings – nice and relaxed. He’s drawn (six) to find a midfield position and he’ll be in the finish somewhere.”
Wednesday’s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 12h40 with the Class 5 Mount Butler Handicap.
