Hong Kong racing tips: three expert picks on Wednesday's card

Whiskey Neat
1.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Harmony N Blessed
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Capital Star
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Caspar Fownes is tipped to extend his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship at Happy Valley when sending out two promising sprinters in the middle grades who have caught the eye of ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira.

Whiskey Neat, who was a Group 3 winner at Ellerslie in New Zealand before export, has taken time to find his level in Hong Kong, dropping 22lb in official ratings after drawing a blank in 17 local starts, but with three minor placings this season, he is in form and can land the Class 4 6f handicap (1.15).

The booking of Moreira for the four-year-old is a confidence boost, as is his handy inside draw (4). Only the the presence of the Zac Purton-ridden Noble Birth threatens to upset perfect placing by Fownes, renowned as the ‘King of the Valley’ for his prowess at the city track.

He has his stable in brilliant form and has saddled 38 winners, which places him six clear of his nearest pursuer Frankie Lor and 12 ahead of multiple champion John Size.

It is difficult for a previously-raced import to win first time out in Hong Kong, but that is the clear objective of the Fownes-trained Capital Star, who has been primed for his local debut in the Class 3 6f handicap (2.50), with Moreira aboard.

The four-year-old was three from seven on South Australian tracks and, while he raced only in handicap company, he displayed conspicuous potential. Since his arrival, the gelding has done well, shining in three barrier trials at Conghua, the Jockey Club’s training centre in China.

Size’s Scores Of Fun, essentially a Moreira reject here, has been snapped up by in-form Alexis Badel, who is now third in the jockeys’ title race. He is the principal danger.

Blake Shinn has regained the ride on Harmony N Blessed, who gave Hollie Doyle a memorable win in the International Jockeys’ Championship last month, and the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey can make the most of the reunion by taking the Class 3 6f handicap (1.45) aboard the David Hayes-trained speedster.

The son of Magnus received an 8lb hike in the ratings but that is unlikely to stop his rise through the ranks. Storm Warnings and Wind N Grass are the dangers.

Happy Valley Wednesday card

Bet through the Tote

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 10.45am

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 4 (1st leg): 2 All You Know, 10 King Dragon
Race 5 (2nd leg): 1 Jazz Steed, 10 UW Brother
Race 6 (3rd leg): 4 Whiskey Neat, 5 Noble Birth
Race 7 (4th leg): 2 Storm Warnings, 6 Harmony N Blessed
Race 8 (5th leg): 6 Angel Of My Eyes, 10 Smiling City
Race 9 (6th leg): 2 Scores Of Fun, 5 Capital Star

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