In-form Green Luck can benefit from good draw at Happy Valley

Clement Legend
11.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Gamechangers
1.45 Happy Valley
1pt win

Green Luck
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Opportunities for stayers are limited in Hong Kong, so when an in-form improver comes along it is wise to follow the rising star.

In the opening race at Happy Valley (11.15) there are two horses who fit the bill — Clement Legend and Smart Baby.

Both have won their last three starts, arrive on the back of career-best efforts and will be ridden by the two most successful jockeys in Hong Kong this season.

We can separate them by a little interpretation of their profiles, with Clement Legend getting the vote simply because he has clearly progressed quickly since tackling distances of 1m2f and beyond.

He is a New Zealand-bred four-year-old by the Cox Plate winner Ocean Park, out of a Montjeu mare, so it is no surprise he is excelling over longer trips. This Class 4 handicap, over 1m3f, should be right up his street.

He is one of a full book of eight rides for Karis Teetan, who is second in the jockeys’ championship behind Zac Purton, who typically has secured plenty of mounts with solid chances again.

Purton’s best chance could be the Caspar Fownes-trained Green Luck (2.50) in the finale, a Class 3 handicap.

The draw is crucial and Green Luck’s gate seven is preferable to gate 12, from which chief rival Happy Dragon will break.

Green Luck impressed when winning at Happy Valley two starts ago, and then went to Sha Tin and ran on solidly for second against a strong field.

Another to follow is Gamechangers (1.45), who is still a maiden in Hong Kong after 15 starts but won races at Dundalk and Killarney for David Wachman before being exported. He represents the powerful John Size/ Joao Moreira combination.

The likely favourite Seven Heavens, a son of Frankel, is worth taking on in this Class 3 6f handicap.

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