Handy low draw boosts claims of sprinter at Happy Valley

Wicker
12.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Sparkling Dragon
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Fat Turtle
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

A six-start maiden, who finished ninth on his last outing, is not normally the profile you readily associate with a forthcoming winner, but Wicker (12.15) can prove the exception in the opening 1m½f Class 5 handicap.

Trainer Richard Gibson has used four jockeys so far in his quest to make the New Zealand-bred gelding a winner, but the booking of champion jockey Zac Purton for the first time is a pointer to improvement being expected.

Also, add in the fact that Wicker has dropped in grade — as well as 13lb in the handicap since he first ran — and you have more than a hint of encouragement this could be the three-year-old’s chance to open his account.

On his only start beyond 7f, the son of Ocean Park finished ninth in a Class 4 handicap over course and distance, but he was running on strongly and hit the line only three-and-a-quarter lengths adrift of the winner. He is perfectly placed in a weaker race here.

In today’s finale, a Class 2 6f sprint, Purton will be aboard red-hot favourite Yee Cheong Baby, but both Fat Turtle (3.50) and Tornado Twist represent potentially formidable opposition.

Tactics will be crucial to the outcome, and neither Purton on Yee Cheong Baby (drawn one) nor Karis Teetan aboard Fat Turtle (two) will want to be drawn into an early battle with speedster Montreal (five), who will be keen to apply pressure from the start.

The Frankie Lor-trained Fat Turtle acts well around Happy Valley and can use this to his advantage from a handy low draw. Tornado Twist will be running on well at the finish.

Tony Millard has had several runners perform well without winning in the last fortnight and Sparkling Dragon (3.15) can get a deserved success for the trainer in the Class 3 6f handicap. His main danger is Telecom Puma in what appears an evenly-matched field.

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