Hong Kong: Selections for Happy Valley Feb. 11

Racing at Happy Valley begins at 5:40 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.

Race 1: NG FONG HANDICAP

#1 Bling Bling Genius has come to hand this season, turning in five close-up finishes that have produced a couple of placings, all over 1400m at Sha Tin. He brings that form to Happy Valley for the first time and looks well placed and the one to beat. #6 Smiling Emperor has been well held in two Sha Tin runs since returning to Class 5, but his form lifts at Happy Valley, and the low draw is a clear map upgrade. He can turn things around today. #4 Telecom Power should get another kind run from barrier 2, the same draw he had last time when placing third at his first try at this track and trip. #5 Podium also maps well from barrier 3, and his last-start eighth reads better than it looks after he was held up late.

Race 2: SHUNG LING HANDICAP

#12 Modest Gentleman has not won for 651 days, but this looks like a good chance for that to change. After drawing wide in five of six runs this season, he comes into barrier 4 and arrives off a narrow defeat when second to Savvy Twinkle. #2 Nebraskan looks set to get his chance to break through. Zac Purton is back on, barrier 1 gives him a clean map, and the drop back to the minimum trip looks timely. #5 Exceed the Wish may be better suited over 1200m, but the draw is the big change, and it can allow him to settle far closer than he has been able to. #4 Spicy Spangle led and faded to fourth last time after rolling along at a decent tempo on his first run in Class 5. A steadier time in front would help his chances of being in the money.

Race 3: TSEUK LUK HANDICAP

#8 Inno Super ran well at his first try around Happy Valley, eased back early from barrier 9, and charged into second. Barrier 1 is the big change, and it puts him in the right spot to go one better. #4 Prestige Ricky draws well in barrier 3, but he needs to make use of it. Since the class drop, he has been getting close, and his last-start third has him coming here in good form. #3 Absolute Awakened did not get the smoothest run from barrier 11 last time, and a slightly kinder draw helps. He can be ridden more like he was two runs ago when he broke through, which brings him back into calculations. #2 Noble Pursuit also gets a better set-up. Barrier 7 and Ellis Wong should allow him to settle handier and improve on his last-start sixth, where he was taken back from barrier 11 and faced a tough task.

Race 4: SHEUNG HEI HANDICAP

#6 Bits Superstar has been building towards a win this season, posting three placings from five runs, including back-to-back placings most recently. He was ridden positively from an outside gate last time to sit second, sticking on well for second, and barrier 6 is a key upgrade today. #2 Find My Love drops back into Class 4, and he cannot be ignored. He has trialed well between runs, and he is well placed to go close again, like four runs ago when he was beaten a head in a similar race. #9 Lucky Man is usually better at Sha Tin, but the key change today is barrier 4 after a run of wide gates, and he is capable of featuring. #1 Superb King has a wide draw to contend with, but his last two since the class drop have been encouraging, and he stays in the mix at a price.

Race 5: SZE MEI HANDICAP

#11 Savvy Twinkle broke through on the class-drop last time at his twelfth start, and he goes back up to Class 4 in a stiffer contest, but off a handy weight relief. The penny may have dropped, and in a wide-open race, he gets the chance to go on with it. #2 Bunta Baby is thriving this season, a win and three placings from five, and that consistency is hard to ignore. Barrier 1 leaves him with no excuses. #1 Beauty Thunder has barrier 11 to contend with, but he brings good form off a neck second, and Zac Purton sticking is a plus. #10 Lean Master can run a race at odds as he returns to his preferred track and distance. He gets a good draw, he sits on a winnable mark, and this is the sort of set-up where he can surprise.

Race 6: THE CONSENSUS CUP (HANDICAP)

#2 Max Que is in fine form this campaign, winning three from six, and he was dominant last time when scoring at his second try at this track and trip. A strong trial since finishing off under no pressure suggests he has held that form, and he may not be done with yet. #1 Flying Fortress is better suited back at Happy Valley after a no-show at Sha Tin. He had placed behind Super Unicorn and Silvery Breeze two and three runs ago, and barrier 3 gives him the chance to land a better trip. #10 Fantastic Fun had to work through a tough run last time after being pushed wide mid-race. The low draw gives him the opportunity to improve. #3 Telecom Fighters draws barrier 1 and can give a sight, but the tempo matters with pace drawn outside, and that will shape his chances.

Race 7: SHEUNG HEI HANDICAP

#3 Flying Wrote has been honest all season, a win and two seconds from five, and he has rarely been beaten far. He did it tough from barrier 9 last time when wide throughout, and the inside draw today is the map change he needs to be right in the finish again. #1 Meowth comes out of the same race and, from barrier 1, he had every chance to beat Amazing Kid but went down by half a length. He draws to get every chance again. #2 Giant Leap has barrier 11 to contend with, but the drop back into Class 4 brings him into play, given his stronger record in the grade, and this does not read as a deep race. #6 Soo Koo has shown some ability at the trials leading into his debut, and barrier 2 can see him land in a good spot.

Race 8: SAM CHUK HANDICAP

#9 Tourbillon Golfer draws barrier 1 and shapes to get the right run on speed to give himself his winning chance. He rolled along last time and stuck on well for third behind Greater Bae, a solid effort in the context. #4 Mighty Commander is in good form this season, two wins and a third from eight, and barrier 2 brings him into the race early. He is hard to hold out if the tempo suits his finish. #11 Amazing Kid comes in off a Class 4 hat-trick, and he has clearly found his groove, but those wins came off good draws and smooth runs in transit. Barrier 7 asks him to do it a bit differently against stronger company. #2 Power Koepp backs up quickly after a return to form last week, when well supported, and a solid third to Romantic Son.

Race 9: SAM CHUK HANDICAP

#3 Lucky Planet draws ideally in barrier 4 to find the lead, as he likes to do. He won well in Class 4 two runs ago, then stepped back into Class 3 last time, worked early from barrier 10, and was only collared late by Romantic Son, a formline that has held up. #10 Spirit of Peace will be looking for the tempo to suit his late run. His last two since the drop in trip have been encouraging, and it is worth noting the move that came for him last time, which saw him start favorite. #7 Refusetobeenglish looks close to a win after back-to-back placings at this track and trip, and barrier 12 is the query, but it may also be enough to keep his price appealing. #6 Lucky Eight led all the way to score in Class 4 last time, and the class rise is the query, but from barrier 1, he stays in the conversation.