It seems like an age since Hong Kong raced at Happy Valley but it has only been two weeks and midweek racing is back at its main venue this Wednesday.
Australian jockey Tim Clark had punters scratching their heads when he won the Classic Cup on a 125-1 chance on Sunday, but those same punters will be looking to him to send them home happier from the Valley after the final race.
Clark rides Braveness for Caspar Fownes and the three-year-old is unbeaten in two starts at Sha Tin and Happy Valley over 1,000m.
He goes to 1,200m for the first time on Wednesday but has a perfect draw in gate one to again give him the right run camped on the speed horses.
Fownes looks a force to be reckoned with throughout the night despite having a fairly light respresentation – all four of his runners look winning chances.
He opens the card with 9-start maiden City Of Lights who has been handy at the finish of his two runs since dropping to lowest grade, Class Five. He has an inside draw over the 1,000m, a claim for Vincent Ho and Fownes has added blinkers, which might make the length difference he is needing to become a winner.
In the fifth, Brett Prebble rides Highest Acclaim for Fownes and the gelding steps up from sprints to 1,650m for the first time. He has always looked in need of more ground, even in his lone win to date, although a wide draw makes his job tougher.
Zac Purton joins in for the remaining Fownes runner, Victor Delight in race seven. The six-year-old has been in terrific form with two wins and two seconds from his last four, and can win again after coming up with gate two.
By Nathan Mody
