Jim McGrath with three top tips for Happy Valley's Wednesday card
Above
12.45 Happy Valley
2pts winWinning Ways
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts winAllied Agility
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts winChad Schofield has struck top form at just the right time to capitalise on Joao Moreira’s absence through suspension on a trappy nine-race card at Happy Valley.
Schofield, who has ridden a total of 11 winners at the last eight meetings, is on fire after recording a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday before declaring he feels he is riding as well as ever.
It is hard to believe the young South African is in his fifth season in Hong Kong, where he has spent a good chunk of his 26 years, completing his primary and early secondary schooling there at the time his father Glyn rode as a contracted jockey.
Chad Schofield was subsequently a Cox Plate-winning jockey in Australia, where he was also champion apprentice in both Sydney and Melbourne, and he is now poised to challenge Karis Teetan for third spot in the pecking order behind Moreira and Zac Purton.
With Moreira on the sidelines, Schofield has come in for two outstanding chances early on the card, starting with the John Size-trained Aurora Steed in the opening Tulip Handicap (11.45).
Two starts ago, Aurora Steed finished a good second in a 5f sprint at Happy Valley, showing his appreciation of a drop in grade. He was well beaten at Sha Tin last time but he may well put that behind him on his return to the city track.
Although a nine-start maiden, he has dropped 13lb in the ratings and he is perfectly poised to open his winning account.
Two races later, Schofield takes over from Moreira aboard promising stayer Above, who can land the Class 3 Heather Handicap (12.45) despite having been clobbered by the handicapper for his six-length win against inferior opposition at Sha Tin.
Facing a hefty 12lb hike in the ratings is never easy, but Above has both the pedigree (by New Zealand sire Tavistock) and proven stamina for the job.
He was able to assert his staying power in the latter stages of his latest start and his real danger this time is any lack of pace in the middle stages.
A runner of note is Generous Charity, who won the Group 2 Italian Derby last year, and following a period of acclimatisation in Hong Kong, may now be ready to go close.
Zac Purton will be another wanting to take advantage of Moreira’s suspension, and his best from a string of major chances may prove to be the Danny C S Shum-trained Winning Ways in the Iris Handicap (1.45).
The champion was aboard Winning Ways when he won over course and distance three starts ago, and although beaten both times since, this looks a simpler task from an attractive inside draw. The consistent Mehboob can again figure in the placings.
The closing Cornflower Handicap (3.50) is also to be run over the sharp 5f course, in which in-form French jockey Antoine Hamelin is fancied to land the prize aboard the Ricky P F Yiu-trained Allied Agility.
This four-year-old has won three of his ten starts and promises to climb higher up the class ladder.
Bets can be placed into HK pools with Ladbrokes, Coral and the Tote
TOTE PLACEPOT
Race 4 (1st leg): 5, 9
Race 5 (2nd leg): 1, 5
Race 6 (3rd leg): 1, 2
Race 7 (4th leg): 2, 4
Race 8 (5th leg): 1, 2
Race 9 (6th leg): 3, 8
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