| What | Happy Valley Races |
| Where | Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong |
| When | Wednesday, February 22, 2023 |
| First Race | 6:45pm HKT (9:45pm AEDT) |
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We’re back racing under lights at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with a competitive nine-race program set down for decision. It’s a strong card before we look to a massive Sunday at Sha Tin with the second leg of the Hong Kong Classic Cup series, as well as the Hong Kong Gold Cup.
We’re racing on the C+3 at Happy Valley, so look for some moderate on-speed favours with the rail generally playing quite hot when in this position. We should be racing on Good to Firm conditions as well, with the first race scheduled to get underway at 6:45pm HKT (9:45pm AEDT).
Best Bet: E Brother
We’ve been a little late to the party on E Brother, but his form and the map in race four on Wednesday night look too hard to ignore. He’s won two of his last three races, with his latest win coming at Sha Tin on January 24 over the 1200m. He looked a beaten commodity when Fighting Star headed him, but the toughness of the five-year-old was on full display as he found again to nose out his rival. Prior to that he was a beaten favourite at Happy Valley when getting pestered on a hot tempo. We’re happy to go back to his win three back when kicking clear to score at Happy Valley on December 14. He’s got to carry the 58kg here but with no speed in this race, E Brother should be able to muster speed to lead and secure some cheap sectionals throughout. If he does, Silvestre de Sousa should be able to pinch a big enough break on this son of Star Witness to win again.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#4 E Brother (2)
5yo Gelding | T: Manfred Man | J: Silvestre de Sousa (58kg)
Bet with Palmerbet
Next Best: Villa Fionn
Villa Fionn has shown plenty of consistency since dropping into Class 4 and we think can go one better after his second in behind E Legend on February 1. He got every chance to win on that occasion but ran into a horse that was well suited to a class drop as well after being ultra-competitive in Class 3. Villa Fionn stalked the leader the entire trip and peeled out to only be beaten 1.3 lengths and cleared out on third by another 1.8 lengths on the winning post. He was clearly the best closer in that race and from barrier one on Wednesday, maps to get every chance again, this time hopefully without finding one better. Antoine Hamlin elects to stick on this Sebring gelding and provided he gets some luck when trying to get clear, Villa Fionn looks the one to beat and deserves to find a win this preparation.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#2 Villa Fionn (1)
8yo Gelding | T: Ricky Yiu | J: Antoine Hamelin (60.5kg)
Bet with Neds
Next Best Again: Tiger Legend
Tiger Legend will make his Hong Kong debut on Wednesday night and we want to be with him first-up in Class 3. At his peak here in Australia he was able to win at Group 3 level in the Vo Rogue plate at Doomben back in January of last year and has been trialling the house down for new trainer Jamie Richards since arriving in Hong Kong. All of his three trials have been on the all-weather surface but what we really liked was the versatility he showed in those trials. He’s lead, he’s taken a sit and he’s trialled against some very nice types that are much better than Class 3 company. We understand that trials don’t always mean the performance will match up; however, with Zac Purton taking the reins for a stable that is flying, we can’t help but respect the son of Better Than Ready in a race like this. What price we get with online bookmakers when they open? We’re not sure, but we’ve got to be backing him on what we’ve seen. Barrier one leaves Purton with plenty of options and provided he gets luck late, Tiger Legend can make his Hong Kong debut a winning one.
Next Best Again
Race 9 – 
#4 Tiger Legend (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Jamie Richards | J: Zac Purton (59kg)
Bet with Bet365
Best Value: Solar Winds
Solar Winds can find another Hong Kong win in the penultimate when stepping up to the 1650m at Happy Valley for the first time. His last run at Sha Tin behind Beauty Eternal was an eye-catching effort that saw the Zoustar gelding fly home into second to go down 1.8 lengths to what looks like a genuine star of the future. The form should stack up well stepping up in trip and his two performances at Happy Valley over 1200m only suggested he’d be better over further. Hugh Bowman is riding like a man possessed since arriving in Hong Kong and he’ll be bouncing from riding a treble on Sunday at Sha Tin. Look for him to have Solar Winds somewhere mid-field from barrier one before showing his classy turn-of-foot to score late charging over his rivals.
Best Value
Race 8 – 
#5 Solar Winds (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (57.5kg)
Bet with Unibet
HK quaddie tips for Happy Valley races
Happy Valley quadrella selections
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
- 1-3-4-5-6
- 1-3-8-10
- 1-3-5-8-10
- 4-5-6-11
Investment: $400 for 100%
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