Hong Kong: Selections for Happy Valley Dec. 10

Racing at Happy Valley begins at 5:30 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.

Race 1: VENTRIS HANDICAP

#9 Family Fortune will need things to break his way given his get-back, run-on pattern, but this race sets up perfectly for him with plenty of genuine speed engaged. With Joao Moreira taking over, this shapes as an ideal opportunity for him to finally shed his maiden status. #6 Tsuen Wan Glory draws inside for the first time in a while which suits his pattern. He has done little wrong this campaign and arrives off a narrow neck second at the course and trip. #3 Sterling Wongchoy continues to improve with racing this campaign. Fourth-up, off a neck second on his first attempt in Class 5, and mapping to stalk the speed from a soft draw, he is firmly in the mix. #12 Strongest Boy will let it all unfold ahead of him and charge late. If the leaders overcook it early, he becomes a winning chance.

Race 2: MORRISON HILL HANDICAP

#2 Good Prospect gets his chance to break through. His first run in Class 5 was full of merit, closing strongly into fourth from well back, and barrier 1 now gives him the ideal platform to settle closer and produce a winning finish. #1 Telecom Power also draws perfectly in barrier 2 and should enjoy a near-identical run to his closing second on his first attempt in the grade. He is clearly knocking on the door. #10 Noble Deluxe can be forgiven for his last two efforts where he was trapped wide without cover throughout. His form prior was encouraging, and with a softer run likely from a better draw he can rebound. #12 Lucky Generations hasn't filled a placing in 14 starts, but Moreira taking the reins and his strong late fourth in a similar race last start give him some appeal.

Race 3: CANAL HANDICAP

#7 Bull Attitude did plenty right on his first look at the course and distance. A moderately run race left him with too much to do, yet he still charged late to finish a neck away in second. On that evidence he deserves another chance to go one better. #4 Prestige Ricky turned a corner when trying Happy Valley for the first time, boxing on for third from a wide draw after being held up late. Barrier 2 offers a much cleaner run and he can continue to progress. #2 The Azure must navigate the outside draw, but James McDonald softens that blow. His form has been building steadily this campaign and his last-start fifth in a genuinely run race carried merit. #5 Aeroinvincible maps for a favorable position just behind the speed, and fourth-up, off a close third at this track and trip, looks set to run another good race.

Race 4: INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHAMPIONSHIP (HANDICAP) - 1ST LEG

#8 Beauty Thunder can rebound returning to this track and trip. He won well here two back before a luckless all-weather run where he was caught wide on the pace and entitled to weaken late. A good trial since suggests he is back on song. #7 Honest Witness looks primed for a first-up strike. Barrier 2 allows him to use his natural speed to land in the right spot, and his form prior hinted he was close to a win. #11 Bunta Baby is trending the right way this campaign and arrives off a fast-finishing second to Mr Desira which is strong form. He has slipped far enough in the ratings to pick up a win on his current mark. #2 Super Sixty has been threatening in all three runs this term and, with a bit of luck from barrier 11 under Moreira, he fights out the finish.

Race 5: INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHAMPIONSHIP (HANDICAP) - 2ND LEG

#3 Corleone is hard to look past. He was an authoritative winner first-up last month, sitting handy before putting the race away by more than two lengths, and he looks a horse with plenty more to offer. Remaining in Class 4 keeps this within reach, especially from barrier 2 with Ryan Moore aboard. #2 Star Mac dips into Class 4 for the first time and is well placed to make an impact. His last run was a slashing fourth against a very slow race shape, and with the right run from barrier 10 he should be right in the thick of it. #4 Quantum Patch has been threatening since the slide into the grade and maps far kinder here after another muddied trip where he still closed well for fifth. #6 Amazing Gaze is worth another look despite failing as the odds-on favorite last time. He wasn't beaten far, draws kindly in barrier 3, and cheekpieces on first time may help sharpen him up.

Race 6: SPORTS HANDICAP

#1 Sky Cap drops back into Class 4 where he is better placed, holding a one-from-two record in the grade. The last time he found himself in a similar scenario he led throughout to beat Bienvenue, which is strong form. Barrier 2 gives Moreira control of the map and he looks primed to be hard to beat fresh. #10 Winning Money is trending the right way and it is no surprise to see Purton jump aboard. He'll appreciate a softer draw after being forced to roll forward from the outside gate second-up where he traveled at a solid tempo and was only grabbed late. #4 Flying Wrote also gets a boost coming into a lower draw. That hasn't stopped him performing well this season, with a runner-up finish to Bienvenue followed by a tough win despite covering ground. #2 Argento Ocean gets every chance to go back-to-back from barrier 1.

Race 7: INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHAMPIONSHIP (HANDICAP) - 3RD LEG

#3 Silvery Breeze is ready to convert consistency into a win. He arrives off back-to-back seconds this campaign, the latest a neck defeat to Uranus Star on his first look at Happy Valley where a clearer passage likely sees him go one better. With plenty of pace engaged, the race shape should play perfectly to his profile. #2 Flying Fortress will also relish a genuine tempo. His third-up return to form when runner-up to Super Unicorn was strong and sets him up to be in the finish. #6 Max Que has hit his straps with two wins and two thirds from four starts this term. He now switches to Happy Valley for the first time but brings solid Sha Tin form lines around horses like Beauty Bolt which measure up well. #5 Another Zonda maps to be one of the pace factors and continues to hold his form without breaking through.

Race 8: INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHAMPIONSHIP (HANDICAP) - 4TH LEG

#9 Mr Desira is a horse on the rise and now faces a fresh test up into Class 3 against some seasoned performers following his second win from five starts. The key in his favour is drawing barrier 1 which guarantees him a world-perfect trip to measure up. #5 Akashvani didn't have the kindest of trips when beaten a neck into fourth as the odds-on favorite. It was a sound effort under the circumstances and he is worth another look. #12 Tourbillon Golfer has always hinted at potential and despite drawing wide last start he produced an impressive pillar-to-post win. That was in Class 4, so this is a new challenge, but he drops weight and finally draws better. #3 Pakistan Legacy went too hard in front first-up and was entitled to fade. His strong Sha Tin form reads well for a switch to Happy Valley, and he appeals at odds.

Race 9: WONG NAI CHUNG HANDICAP

#1 Johannes Brahms is easy to forgive for two runs that read worse than they were. First-up he wasn't far off My Wish despite being held up for half the straight, while second-up he copped a check at the 350m that ended his run. Third-up and getting his first look at Happy Valley, he can hit his straps. #2 Speed Dragon gets a tailor-made set-up. He is unbeaten both third-up and at this track and trip, and that profile alone bodes well. #7 Sky Heart comes through a strong Sha Tin race where he was solid from an on-pace position. He'll be in it for a long while from barrier 3. #11 The Boom Box took to the city circuit immediately when winning on his first attempt. The rise to 1800m and to Class 2 present genuine queries, but he is a horse with upside who possesses a turn of foot.