Glory Elite (121lb) underlined his sprinting potential with a triumphant return to Happy Valley on Wednesday night (30 April) with victory in the Class 2 Seoul Handicap (1000m) under Derek Leung to earn a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million.
Having contested the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 31 January when he finished 10th behind My Wish, Glory Elite has since been restricted to shorter contests with tonight’s scamper being the Russian Revolution’s first test over 1000m since last season.
Jumping cleanly from barrier five, the four-year-old crossed smoothly to the rails and controlled the race for Leung to defeat Colourful King (120lb) by three quarters of a length in 56.08s, with Whizz Kid (122lb) third.
“He’s good. He was a bit more relaxed than at Sha Tin. He stood well in the gates and there weren’t many 1000m horses in the field and I made sure in the first 400 metres he didn’t make any mistakes,” Leung said. “He’s very honest, very straightforward.”
Glory Elite has had 19 starts for four wins and six minor placings with his previous three wins all over 1200m at Sha Tin and had started only once previously at Happy Valley.
Harmony Galaxy continued his excellent form for Danny Shum with an impressive win in the Class 4 Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1800m) for Brenton Avdulla.
Group 1-placed in Brazil, the four-year-old Courtier gelding made it successive course and distance triumphs with an excellent staying performance, finishing powerfully from the tail of the field out wide.
“He was good, he’s been racing well. He won with ‘Hughy’ Bowman on him the other day and he had to carry the big weight (135lb) tonight, but obviously they went a good gallop so it suited him,” Avdulla said.
“He chimed into it nicely and I was able to get to the outside and rip home. I think there’s still a bit of upside to him when he gets up to Class 3 – he’ll drop a lot in weight and still be competitive.”
Me Tsui’s Everstar landed the first section of the Class 4 Yeongcheon Handicap (1200m) for James Orman as Happy Fat Cat continued a tremendous season with success in the second section of the Class 3 Busan Handicap (1200m).
Jumping from barrier 12 under Antoine Hamelin, the Cody Mo-trained gelding slotted his second win from his past three starts to claim his ninth win from 46 appearances in Hong Kong, while taking his earnings beyond HK$9 million.
A Americ Te Specso struck for the second time in as many starts for John Size and Andrea Atzeni with success in the Class 3 Jeju Handicap (1650m). A four-time winner over 1200m at the city circuit, the Per Incanto gelding has added a pair of 1650m triumphs since being tried over extra ground.
Dropping in grade, Kaholo Angel (128lb) edged to a narrow victory in the first section of the Class 3 Busan Handicap (1200m), notching his second win in third starts under Ellis Wong. Ridden conservatively, the grey steamed along the rails to deny Victory Sky (120lb) in another tight finish.
Tony Cruz and Hugh Bowman combined with California Moxie (130lb) to land the Class 5 Daegu Handicap (1650m). Winless in 15 previous starts, the Mehmas gelding finished stoutly to down Harry’s Hero (124lb) before Zac Purton drove Frankie Lor’s The Azure to victory by a nose over Dragon Star in the Class 4 Incheon Handicap (1650m).
Purton sealed a double with Francis Lui’s Loving Vibes in the second section of the Class 4 Yeongcheon Handicap (1200m) to have 102 winners for the season – 44 clear of second-placed Bowman (58).
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (4 May) with the running of the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m).
By Leo Schlink
