Hong Kong racing sees a rare daytime meeting at Happy Valley this weekend, including some good quality events to round the card out including a 1,650m Class One that sees the return of Mizani.
Trainer Richard Gibson claimed first and third in the Derby with his two runners, but Mizani was the stable rep scratched with a stone-bruised foot an hour before the race.
He has trialled nicely, gets into this race with a light weight and the rain around in Hong Kong this week should be a plus for him as he seeks to keep his unbeaten record intact.
In the other main race, a Class Two Over 1,200m, the star of the Valley this season, Cape Canaveral is back to the scene of his three wins.
Tony Cruz tried him at Sha Tin for his last two where he was sound but not quite the same horse as at the quirky inner city track, so he can make a winning return to his preferred course.
Caspar Fownes has been a strong supporter of Zac Purton’s championship bid this season and they won a pair midweek at the Valley, and look hard to beat with Flying Keeper in the Class Five sprint again.
Earlier in the night, Fownes backs up Wednesday night’s 1,200m winner Snitzel Kid over 1,650m take advantage of a loophole in the handicapping.
Snitzel Kid’s easy win on Wednesday would have earned him a hoist in rating that would take him out of Class Four but since the handicaps had already issued for the weekend’s race, under local rules he remains eligible but carries a 7-pound weight penalty.
But Purton, who rode Snitzel Kid midweek, has jumped ship to You Know I Win dropping in grade and he might prove the tough one to beat.
By Nathan Mody
