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5 March 2024
The Happy Valley Review: Wednesday February 28
The TechTeam reviews all the races from the previous meeting at Happy Valley, offering expert analysis and useful insights.
Zac Purton had a big night with wins aboard Palace Pal, Raging Blizzard and Beauty Infinity (Photo: HKJC)
Weather and track condition.
The track surface played as a Good to Yielding track as evidenced by the slow times across the meeting which were on average +0.189 per 200m.
Misty conditions, heavily overcast and drizzling rain before Race 1.
Track Bias: Even though the inside barriers 1,2,3 won five races on the night the track played extremely evenly across all barrier groupings as can be seen in Table 1. Historically the ‘A’ course plays more favourably to the inside as can be seen from the table, where the inside three barriers have twice the strike rate of the outside three barriers. Once again, the track played away from its historical pattern and in terms of placing the barriers had no impact on the results.
Table 1
| Barrier | St: 1-2-3 | Place % | Historical % |
| 1-3 | 27: 5-1-1 | 25.9% | 34.83% |
| 4-6 | 27: 1-3-3 | 25.9% | 26.69% |
| 7-9 | 27: 2-2-3 | 25.9% | 20.61% |
| 10-12 | 19: 1-3-2 | 31.6% | 17.88% |
Race 1 🏆#3 Palace Pal
Broke his maiden status with a heady ride by Zac Purton who made a run mid race to kick away and hold a margin to the post.
Race 2 🏆#6 Tactical Command
Race 3 🏆 #12 Lean Master
Fast pace here favouring Super Fast Dragon who was too far back to win over 1000m though closing strongly.
Race 4 🏆#2 Samarkand
Strong pace bias in slowly run race saw 3-4-2-1 in the run finish 1st to 4th. Not a great guide.
Race 5 🏆#5 Raging Blizzard
The pace steadied here mid-race and the winner Raging Blizzard appreciated being ridden more quietly than his last couple of starts. Follow Wings Of War who was too far back from his wide draw.
Race 6 🏆#2 Super Joy N Fun
A steady speed here saw the first five in the run take the first five placings. Super Joy N Fun was the only leader to win all night adding merit to his performance. We would expect him to progress further and win at his next start in Class 3. He is definitely one to follow.
Race 7 🏆#10 June Planet
Steady speed early but the leader Outgate ran along from the 800m in an attempt to pinch the race. June Planet followed hard against the rail which was no disadvantage tonight to collar the tearaway leader.
Race 8 🏆#4 Sugar Sugar
Race 9 🏆#1 Beauty Infinity
Beauty Infinity showed a nice turn of foot even though carrying top weight and will win again as he goes up to Class 3 next time.
Horses to follow: Wings Of War, Super Joy N Fun, Beauty Infinity
More from the TechTeam with this week’s edition of “Form Pointers” and all the tips and avoids from Happy Valley on Wednesday.
The Sha Tin Review: Sunday February 25
Form Pointers – Track bias
