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

Colourful King
12.40 Happy Valley
2pts win 

Mission Strike
1.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

A Americ Te Specso
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Andrea Atzeni can return to the spotlight at Happy Valley with an enticing book of eight rides, headed by the progressive Colourful King in the Class 2 5f handicap (12.40).

Atzeni enjoyed a purple patch prior to FWD Champions Day last weekend, firing in doubles and trebles at will, but he had to take a back seat behind Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman and the visitors Joao Moreira and Damian Lane on the big day.

Trainer David Eustace knows he has picked up a smart import in Colourful King, who won two races at Sandown in Melbourne. Notably in one of them he defeated recent Sydney Group 3 winner She’s Got Pizzazz.

The way the son of Blue Point accelerated when he got an opening last time, over course and distance, was indicative of a sprinter destined for the top grade.  He won by two lengths with plenty in hand and has gone up 9lb in the ratings as a result.

Interestingly, this gelding is an Australian-bred three-year-old and, like Blue Point, looks set to get better with age and also benefit from being held up behind the pace rather than making it. From the inside gate, Atzeni is likely to led the speedsters go early.

Purton should have Aurora Lady up vying for the lead from gate six, with Glory Elite and Whizz Kid also prominent, and that will set it up nicely for Colourful King, who has a great turn of foot.

Atzeni has some attractive rides late on the card, especially the John Size-trained A Americ Te Specso, who can make it back-to-back wins when he lines up in the Class 3 handicap (3.15) over 1m½f.

The six-year-old has shown another dimension to his make-up since stepping up in distance — his four previous wins had been over 6f — and Atzeni knows how to time his run on the gelding. Size and Atzeni have another good chance with in-form Golden Rise (3.50) in the finale.

Trainer Mark Newnham has found the perfect race for Mission Strike, dropping him back in trip to 1m1f for the Class 4 handicap (1.40). The three-year-old can open his account at the fifth attempt.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

1.10
3 Happy Trio
5 Nebraskan

1.40
6 Mission Strike
8 SJ Tourbillon

2.10
1 Giddy Up
10 Loving Vibes

2.45
1 Spicy Gold
5 Storm Rider

3.15
5 Definitive
6 A Americ Te Specso

3.50
2 Eternal Fortune
6 Golden Rise

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 11.40am

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