Dragon set to pack his third win

Clint Hutchison

– There is a good value Eachway bet today in the main event, The Happy Valley Vase, where Packing Dragon bids to win his third race this season.

This grey son of Mastercraftsman has proven a tough campaigner this season with a series of dogged performances that have seen him notch two wins and four placings from ten starts.

The step up to 1800m on this occasion is a positive, and under the conditions of the race he looks very well in at the weights on the minimum. And with that light weight we can expect him to roll forward and make the running. This looks an event where there may not be a whole lot of pressure on him and should prove hard to run down.

No doubt the booking of Joao Moreira aboard Marvel Hero will attract plenty of betting and the last start winner also takes a rise

Hong Kong

in to this grade following a decisive win over the Happy Valley 1600m. The lightly-raced import is progressive in his own right and has been firing for the yard.

Of the remainder, Circuit Land has been the runner-up on his last two starts and although he has probably reached his limit in the handicap, he looks capable of another minor place. And the drop back in grade for the Tony Millard-trained Horse Of Fortune makes some appeal with this galloper only failing to hit the frame once this season and an excellent overall record at the city course.

One of the better bets on the card is in the fifth event, The Hong Kong Exchanges Challenge Cup where Generous Heart bids to go one better than he managed over the 1200m at Happy Valley two weeks ago. It was a sound run in defeat and providing he can enjoy a similar run in transit, then he should be hard to beat.

Once again, Moreira looks to ride the main danger with Powermax who has had the misfortune of drawing the outside alley. However, so often we see the ‘magic man’ offset an awkward draw and that could happen again.

Moreira should have a winner in the second event with Circuit King who drops back to 1000m. He is very fast out of the gates, and usually very weak in the final stages but that has generally been over 1200m and he could be a lot harder to catch over the minimum trip. There isn’t much depth to this field and he might prove too good.

Millard has a sound chance to win the fourth event, the Man Yiu Handicap with Super Form who has been knocking on the door for a win lately. He was held-up on his last outing and more than a touch unlucky.

On this occasion, he should get the run of the race for Aussie hoop Sam Clipperton and given the lack of serious opposition, he might be able to notch his second Hong Kong win.