Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Happy Valley on Sunday

Arthur’s Kingdom
7.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

Romantic Son
8.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

Lucky Encounter
9.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

David Hayes’s excellent season can continue on a rare Sunday meeting at Happy Valley, where the former champion trainer saddles smart Lucky Encounter in the finale, the Class 2 6f handicap (9.50).

The five-year-old had little chance drawn in 13 on his most recent outing when he finished a respectable sixth in the circumstances behind Wunderbar in a particularly strong sprint for this grade.

The winner is the only horse so far to master Ka Ying Rising. This time, Lucky Encounter will be much more comfortable in stall five and should enjoy the run of the race, although he would be as much at home making it, as he did when beating Gorgeous Win and Drombeg Banner in April.

The handicapper seems to have got the measure of Copartner Prance, who won six races on the trot and rocketed 44lb up the ratings last season. He was beaten on both starts this term but still ran respectably and with the inside draw (1) he is still well in contention.

Old-timers will spot that Hayes is winding back the clock when he saddles the newcomer Romantic Son in the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (8.40).  The four-year-old bears the same name as one of his father Colin’s popular stable stars in South Australia 50 years ago.

This Romantic Son won a Geelong 6f maiden on his only start before being exported and since arriving in Hong Kong four months ago, he has lined up in three barrier trials on turf, including one at the city track. With Zac Purton riding, from stall one he will give a good sight.

Celestial Colours lost a shoe in transit when just touched off by a short head from a wide draw on his last start over a shorter trip. His sole local win came over course and distance, which entitles him to inclusion from five, with a little more time to settle into a rhythm.

It took a long wait for Arthur’s Kingdom to win a race – four seasons and dropping from Class 2 to Class 5 – but he has won three of his last four starts and could go in again in the Class 4 1m1f handicap (7.40).

He is a stayer as he indicated with his second to Pyledriver in Royal Ascot’s King Edward VII Stakes for Aidan O’Brien in 2020. He has most to fear from the David Eustace-trained Charity Gain, who rattled home well last time.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

7.10
2 The Perfect Match
10 Gimme Five 

7.40
7 Charity Gain
10 Arthur’s Kingdom

8.10
2 Ma Comet
8 Sight Happy

8.40
2 Celestial Colours
8 Romantic Son

9.15
4 Red Elegance
10 Horsepower

9.45
1 Copartner Prance
5 Lucky Encounter

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Sunday is at 4.45am.

Happy Valley card

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