Joao Moreira and Zac Purton go head-to-head
– The Cricket Club Valley Stakes is the main event at Happy Valley today and on paper it would be no surprise if it boiled down to a battle between the two jockeys battling for the championship with Joao Moreira riding Thunder Stomp and Zac Purton aboard Let’s Take It Easy.
The slight tactical advantage might go to Moreira aboard Thunder Stomp who beat home Let’s Take It Easy the last time they clashed, which incidentally came over the course and distance. Moreira from a low draw
Hong Kong
should find a handy position and providing Thunder Stomp can hold his form from that outing then he should figure in the finish once again.
However, Let’s Take It Easy is the preference here quite clearly, as he was posted three-wide without cover for the journey on his last start and still kept on quite gamely.
A more positive ride in the early stages might make all the difference and with any sort of luck he can atone.
Although he was a beaten favourite on his last start, he might be Eachway odds this time from the wide draw and is worth following again on that Eachway basis.
Purton could easily add to his tally in Race 4 with Buoyant Boy ready to score.
This galloper has been luckless in a series of runs this preparation, but has been regularly hitting the line with plenty of purpose and from a better draw on this occasion in a race with plenty of expected pace, he will be ideally suited.
He can be followed with a Win bet, and if taking an Exacta, there is one main danger with Flying Monkey who battled quite bravely when wide over the minimum trip on his last start and is drawn to get a far more economical run on this occasion.
And there is a good value bet in a competitive final event on the card with Dougie Whyte having a great chance to score aboard Super Leader.
He was simply too far out of his ground when taken back from a wide gate last time and rattled home in the some of the best sectionals at the meeting.
He can settle a lot closer this time from a favourable draw and if that is the case, then looks a great chance to post his third career win in Hong Kong, with Whyte having ridden the other two. SUGGESTED BETS: Race 4: No 5 Win Race 6: No 4 Eachway Race 8: No 12 Eachway