Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto) has stepped up his game this season with a pair of wins and on Wednesday night he will attempt to emulate his Sha Tin heroics at Happy Valley in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Chater Handicap (1200m).
Trained by John Size and to be ridden again by Karis Teetan, Raging Blizzard has had only four starts in Hong Kong – all at Sha Tin. The four-year-old scored at his first time of asking in Class 3 last month with a smart success over Gorgeous Win.
Teetan knows the improving Raging Blizzard well and he believes that effort combined with barrier three will stand the Per Incanto gelding in good stead as he encounters the tight turns, bright lights and unique atmosphere that Happy Valley offers for the first time.
“It’s (barrier three) going to make a big difference at the end. The good thing about him is that he has some nice speed which will help him. I’m looking forward to riding him,” Teetan said.
“It was a very good win last time. By saying that, I believe he had a lot of things go his way – he had a decent draw, nice trail into the race and got a nice split. Everything worked out pretty well and he has a nice draw on Wednesday, so let’s hope he gets a good run again.”
The bay crossed the line third in a recent barrier trial at Sha Tin. He clocked 46.20s for that effort over 800m on turf.
“He just had a little stretch. I was pretty happy, he was very comfortable and he is ready,” Teetan said.
With 37 wins this season – including 16 since the start of December – Teetan is on track to eclipse last term’s return of 56 triumphs, which was hampered due to an extended stint sidelined with illness.
