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

Circuit Seven
12.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Beauty Joy
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Carroll Street
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Hong Kong legend Tony Cruz is enjoying a great run with his surprise acquisition Beauty Joy, who is tipped to make it three from four in today’s Class 2 handicap (2.15) over an extended mile at Happy Valley.

Cruz has turned his season around after a relatively slow start, and with 33 wins he is third in the trainers’ championship and poised to come home strongly in the second half of the term.

Beauty Joy, unbeaten in four starts in West Australia before export, was recruited by David Hayes, but after only two starts for the Australian, he was transferred to Cruz, who made it his business to produce the five-year-old ready to win on his seasonal debut in December.

He has since added a course-and-distance win last month, for which he has gone up 6lb in the handicap. Zac Purton, who was on for both his recent wins, has remained loyal.

In arguably the most intriguing race on an attractive card, there are several worthy dangers, headed by Tsar, who loves the track, and the capable Sunny Star, and both should be at good odds. In-form Cheerful Days, who is in rare form, has unfortunately drawn wide.

Cruz also has excellent prospects with Circuit Seven, to be partnered by Matthew Poon in the Class 4 5f sprint handicap (12.45), in which the gelding will attempt back-to-back wins over the minimum trip.

Two years ago, Circuit Seven finished second to Ole Kirk, a subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner, in a Listed juvenile race at Flemington, but he had to drop 26lb in the handicap to break the ice at his 17th start locally. He is still near the right mark to go in again.

Trainer Dennis Yip, who is not permitted to go racing or attend morning gallops until further notice after testing positive with Covid, is represented by interesting newcomer Bulb Prince, a three-year-old showing promise in barrier trials.

Australian jockey Daniel Moor has impressed enough in landing two winners to have picked up eight rides, with his best being Carroll Street for Douglas Whyte in the finale, a Class 2 6f handicap sprint (2.50). If held up, the gelding should see out the 6f comfortably.

Happy Valley Placepot

12.15
4 Bingo Bingo
6 Mega Bonus

12.45
2 Circuit Seven
9 Pretty Queen Prawn

1.15
2 Special M
10 Awesome Treasure

1.45
1 Astrologer
2 Rewarding Together

2.15
3 Beauty Joy
8 Tsar

2.50
1 Sight Success
7 Carroll Street

2x2x2x2x2x2=64 lines

Bets can be placed into Sha Tin pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Wednesday is at 10.45am.

Happy Valley card on Wednesday

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