Victory In Hand made all under Karis Teetan to break his maiden in the Class 4 Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley last night (Wednesday, 11 December).
The Francis Lui-trained four-year-old had raced well enough in defeat in five starts at Sha Tin – the last two down the 1000m straight – but clearly enjoyed his first run at the Valley over the longer trip. Teetan drove the 3.8 second-favourite to a two and a quarter-length score.
“He looks like he's improved a lot, running here for the first time,” Lui said. “In his previous races, at Sha Tin, he's been a bit nervous so I thought about how to calm him down and I decided to run him here in the different environment. He also had a wind problem, but not a serious problem.
“Today we were lucky to get a good draw (gate two) and the field wasn't that strong. He needed those races at Sha Tin and also those fields were strong. The straight at Sha Tin is long as well and today, with the good draw, he could travel comfortably on the turn over 1200 metres.”
Teetan made it a race-to-race double when the David Ferraris-trained Magnetism (130lb) out-ran Heavenly Thought (133lb) by a nose in the Class 4 Mesia Handicap (1800m). It was the winner's fifth Hong Kong win and first since June 2018.
Zac Purton opened his night's account on the Richard Gibson-trained Powermax in race two, the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1200m). It was the seven-year-old gelding's fifth win at start 31.
The champion jockey made it a brace in the finale, the Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap (1200m), when guiding the Group 1-placed South African import Cue The Music to a smart win under 133lb. That sealed a double for the Ferraris stable.
A canny back-stretch move saw Matthew Poon urge 19/1 shot Rickfield past rivals to head the field on the turn and that proved decisive as the Tony Millard-trained grey kept on to win the Class 3 Nightjar Handicap (1650m).
Joao Moreira made a long run for home on Flame Lily and the Frankie Lor-trained five-year-old boxed on down the straight to take the Class 4 Robin Handicap (1650m).