Tycoon has the right resources at Happy Valley
Tycoon Resources has burst onto the scene as a horse packed with ability, and on Wednesday at Happy Valley, the up-and-comer is aiming to extend his unbeaten sequence.
The three-year-old son of Written Tycoon joined a select band of 22 horses since the 1999/00 season to secure debut victory in Class 4 over 1000m at Happy Valley. Following that effort was a brave win from an awkward position last month, rallying under Angus Chung for two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1999/00 & 2004/05) Tony Cruz.
Chung said: “He found trouble on the turn and it was tight from the outside horse. He probably lost momentum there, but he picked up well and finished off very strong. I didn’t expect he would be that impressive.”
Cruz’s most recent debut winner in Class 4 over 1000m at Happy Valley before Tycoon Resources came in 2004 with Captain Happy. Mr Stunning achieved the rare feat, too, and went on to become a three-time Group 1 winner.
Tycoon Resources steps into Class 3 and tackles 1200m for the first time in the first section of the West Kowloon Handicap.
“He’s very professional and he knows what he’s doing. He can be a bit nervous in the barrier, especially last time, he hit his chin, so he had to come out for a check. I thought it affected him a little bit because he didn’t show that much early speed,” Chung said.
“I think the step up to 1200m will help him. He has a lot of potential and he has a lot of ability. I think he will be okay in Class 3, especially carrying the light weight and he has drawn a good barrier (No 4). Hopefully, we can let him jump well, travel well and finish off like last time.”
Ethan Brown hops aboard the consistent Superb King, aiming to steer Francis Lui’s gelding to a breakthrough triumph, following four successive top-three finishes, in the second section of the Class 4 Stanley Handicap over 1200m.
“He’s drawn a good gate (No 2); he’ll get a good run up on the speed and he’ll give himself every chance. I’m really looking forward to riding him,” Brown said. “Wherever he lands, if he gets a comfortable run, he’ll be right in the finish.”
On a short-term contract until the end of this season, Australian Brown posted his first Sha Tin win last weekend as he aims to secure a foothold in Hong Kong.
“I’m feeling very comfortable and confident riding. It’s just trying to find those better chances and I seem to have a few of those tomorrow,” Brown said.
Joao Moreira’s 12 wins from the past six fixtures are unmatched, and the four-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 & 2020/21) has seven rides, including Target Audience in the second section of the West Kowloon Handicap.
Moreira said: “He’s put in three good races just recently at Sha Tin. He’s the kind of horse who has the gate speed to do well at Happy Valley.
“That was a great surprise for me to win on him first-up. He was coming back from a long spell, however, if he’s done what he’s done that means he has ability. I know he’s up in class, however, he has what it takes to go well at Happy Valley.”
An in-form Moreira also partners Noble Pursuit, Silver Spurs, Jumbo Blessing, Decision Link, Elegant Life and Audacious Pursuit – all for championship-leading trainer Caspar Fownes, who tops the table with 61 wins, four ahead of his nearest rivals. – Hong Kong Jockey Club
Happy Valley Selections
Race 1: 1 Kingly Demeanor, 5 Smart City, 8 All Are Mine, 3 Splendid Force
Race 2: 7 Precision Hope, 5 Noble Pursuit, 1 Legend Winner, 2 Cheaha
Race 3: 10 Silver Spurs, 3 Bullish Nova, 5 King Oberon, 7 Heroic Vanguard
Race 4: 3 Grand Nova, 8 Harmony Fire, 9 Mapogo, 5 Beauty Show
Race 5: 7 Absolute Awakened, 5 Decision Link, 1 General Redwood, 3 Sturdy Ruby
Race 6: 3 Elegant Life, 2 Superb King, 8 Live Wire, 4 Giant Leap
Race 7: 8 Ace War, 1 Fallon, 3 The Auspicious, 10 Audacious Pursuit
Race 8: 8 Tycoon Resources, 5 Szeryng, 4 Greater Bae, 12 Refusetobeenglish
Race 9: 1 Flying Wrote, 6 Storming Dragon, 4 Motor, 2 Lifeline Express
Race 1 – CHEK LAP KOK HANDICAP
1 Kingly Demeanor finds a winnable race back down in Class 5, where he is a three-time winner from nine starts, and he will also appreciate an inside draw after stepping from barrier 13 in his last two runs. He can lead and prove hard to run down. 5 Smart City maps for a good run just off the speed from barrier 4 and will be more effective back on turf after a failed run on the all-weather last time. 8 All Are Mine was well beaten over 2,200m last start but was unsuited racing on speed and being hard to settle. Back in trip and ridden off the pace should suit his chances better. 3 Splendid Force placed a fast-finishing second at this track and trip two starts ago before stepping to 2,200m and not seeing it out.
Race 2 – KAI TAK HANDICAP
7 Precision Hope put the writing on the wall last time with a fast-finishing fourth, beaten half a length in a strong race. Barrier 1 sets him up for a sweet run and he looks ready to win. 5 Noble Pursuit is 623 days between wins but is more than capable against this lot, and his last-start fast-finishing fifth was a solid effort. 1 Legend Winner needs to overcome barrier 11, but his first look in Class 4 was a good return to form when placed third, and he is on an upward trajectory. 2 Cheaha steps up to 1,650m, which is the query, but he has performed well in two runs since the class drop with a pair of fourths. Last start, he had a very poor trip but recovered and finished off strongly. He likely sits back from barrier 10 and launches late.
Race 3 – STANLEY HANDICAP
10 Silver Spurs draws widest in barrier 12, but in a race without much early speed on paper, Moreira may be able to come across and find a comfortable position. He did that last start from barrier 14 at Sha Tin, when he led and was only collared late into second. 3 Bullish Nova placed an encouraging third on debut, which is not always easy at Happy Valley, and can take natural improvement from that effort. 5 King Oberon gets Purton in the saddle for the first time and the booking looks timely after some luckless recent runs. 7 Heroic Vanguard ran an encouraging seventh at his first look at Happy Valley, settling back from the outside stall before closing late despite finding traffic. Barrier 3 sets him up for a better run.
Race 4 – TSIM SHA TSUI HANDICAP
3 Grand Nova seems a better horse at Happy Valley after a couple of recent second-place finishes to handy types, while he has not performed as well down the Sha Tin straight. Barrier 2 gives him every chance in the run. 8 Harmony Fire has been running well but has had to do it from outside gates recently, making barrier 1 key to his chances today. 9 Mapogo has not delivered on his trial form in three runs so far, but the switch to Jerry Chau is an encouraging jockey booking and a gear tweak could prove the key to improvement. 5 Beauty Show went too quickly on pace last time and only faded late into seventh. He is only a three-year-old who will be better in time, but the ability is there.
Race 5 – THE TOURISM CUP (HANDICAP)
7 Absolute Awakened steps out for David Hayes for the first time and his two trials since the stable switch have been encouraging pieces of work. He looks ready to go first-up. 5 Decision Link won easily last time as the well-backed odds-on favourite, and barrier 3 gives him the right set-up to repeat the dose. 1 General Redwood won smartly from barrier 12 last start, coming from the rear with a big run and showing tactical versatility after leading throughout two runs prior. Barrier 1 should see him more prominent today. 3 Sturdy Ruby can map sweetly from barrier 2 and take a step forward on his close-up eighth when returning to Class 4 last time.
Race 6 – STANLEY HANDICAP
3 Elegant Life carries nine pounds more for his facile last-start win, where he scored by two and a quarter lengths, and gets the same set-up again from barrier 3, where he will be hardest to hold out. 2 Superb King can make full use of barrier 2 to lead or be handy. He has been knocking on the door for a maiden win, coming off four straight placings, and gets every chance to break through here. 8 Live Wire led and gave a solid sight first-up from barrier 11, only being caught late when beaten under a length into fifth. Barrier 6 second-up should help him save energy early and have more left in the tank late. 4 Giant Leap also gets a better map than last start, when he stepped from barrier 12 at Sha Tin.
Race 7 – VICTORIA HARBOUR HANDICAP
8 Ace War gets a barrier upgrade today, drawing barrier 2 after stepping from gates 8 and 11 since returning to Class 3, where he has placed both times off an impressive Class 4 win. The inside gate may allow him to settle that little bit closer in the run. 1 Fallon returns to a track and distance where he thrives, with three wins from five attempts, after three runs at Sha Tin since winning here four starts ago. 3 The Auspicious has the form on the board, having beaten Ace War two starts ago before backing it up with another solid effort when second to Liveandletlive. 10 Audacious Pursuit steps into Class 3 for the first time after registering his second career win at start 12 and will relish a 14-pound drop in the weights.
Race 8 – WEST KOWLOON HANDICAP
8 Tycoon Resources is a smart three-year-old on the up after stringing together back-to-back wins in Class 4 over 1,000m. This is his first Class 3 test, as well as his first attempt at 1,200m, but barrier 4 gives him every chance to post the winning hat-trick. 5 Szeryng returns off a mandatory stand-down after bleeding in his last race in January. He has looked good in his trials for return and can enjoy a good run from barrier 1. 4 Greater Bae needs plenty of luck from barrier 11, but his recent trial in blinkers did not go unnoticed. He will have to be ridden back, but he is one to look for late. 12 Refusetobeenglish is fresh and should map for a good run from barrier 3. Eligible for Class 4, he remains in Class 3 on a light weight, and at this track and distance this season he has been threatening a win.
Race 9 – WEST KOWLOON HANDICAP
1 Flying Wrote is thriving, with three wins and a further four seconds from 11 starts this season. Barrier 4 should give him every chance to get the run of the race, and he can win again despite carrying top weight. 6 Storming Dragon draws barrier 1, but still needs to make full use of it early. He has been a model of consistency recently, with a win and a third from his last four starts. 4 Motor comes off a win at his second Class 3 start, which is encouraging, and the form has stood up with runner-up Son Pak Fu coming out and winning his next race. Barrier 10 is trickier, but he remains in the mix. 2 Lifeline Express comes to Happy Valley for the first time and brings strong Sha Tin form to the table.