Alexis Badel is hoping to time it right aboard the rapidly rising Happy Together in Wednesday’s HK$4.2 million Grade 3 January Cup Handicap over 1800m.
Amid a sparkling season with three wins from four starts, Happy Together continues to up the ante, enough so to warrant his shot at Happy Valley’s sole Group race with Badel confident he has found the key to unlocking even more success for the five-year-old.
“I learnt from my mistake two starts ago at Sha Tin. You need to preserve his turn of foot and you have to be a bit more patient – I didn’t make the same mistake twice and it was a good win last start,” Badel said. “He’s doing very well and he keeps improving.”
Trained by Frankie Lor, Happy Together will carry 52.5kg. He most recently won a quality Class 2 at Happy Valley last month – his only race at the city circuit.
“To his credit, he has a good turn of foot. He can quicken well and he trialled well at Happy Valley when he was younger, so I was confident he was going to run a good race last time, as long as he could relax for me,” Badel said.
Happy Together tackles the Valley’s 1800m trip for the first time in the January Cup, while five-year-old’s boast a strong record with 13 wins in the race since it was first staged in 1999, including five out of the last six renewals.
“I’d prefer a good tempo – it’s easier for me. There’s no doubt he’s a nice horse and he’s in good form carrying no weight,” Badel said.
Happy Together meets Encountered, Money Catcher, Sword Point, Telecom Fighters, Tourbillon Diamond, Champion Dragon, Helene Feeling, Nimble Nimbus, Rising From Ashes, La City Blanche and Berlin Tango in the January Cup.
Lor and Badel combined to win the 2019 running with Simply Brilliant, who carried 52kg. Happy Together is one of three runners in the race for Lor, who also saddles Money Catcher and Sword Point.
“He’s good but this time he’ll carry 134 pounds (61kg),” Lor said of Money Catcher, who won the 2023 January Cup.
Sword Point was Group 2-placed two runs ago and pairs with Hugh Bowman this week.
“He’s good, I put Hugh Bowman on for last week’s gallop – he was happy,” Lor said.
La City Blanche contests his second Group 3 in Hong Kong in the January Cup. He finished third in November’s HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m).
Karis Teetan will partner the bay – who has won once over 1800m at Happy Valley – from barrier one for Tony Cruz.
“He goes in with a light weight and he’s won at Happy Valley before. Last start he ran into some really big horses. I think going into the race with a light weight that he has a chance – he’s run well at the Valley before,” Teetan said. “If he gets the right run this week, then he’ll get his chance.”
Badel rides another swift improver at the city circuit. The Frenchman gets the leg-up on Healthy Healthy for trainer Pierre Ng in the Class 3 Causeway Handicap (1200m).
“He had a light weight last time but he’s the type of horse who is big enough to carry the weight, it isn’t a bother. He looks well and he’s recovered from his last run,” Ng said.
Russian Emperor, Senor Toba and Straight Arron have been entered to run in the QAT Grade 1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m), while Flaming Rabbit holds an entry for the QAT Grade 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (1600m). Both races are run on 17 February at Al Rayyan in Qatar. - Hong Kong Jockey Club
Race-by-Race Previews
Race 1: Very average Class 5 to kick off the card. Happy Horse can lead in this race and be hard to run down under Hugh Bowman. He is hard to oppose and stand out as the strongest form choice. Modest Gentleman drawn well and should gain a nice run in transit. Long-standing maiden, but gets favours here. Fingers Crossed should gain a good run from the nice barrier draw. Has early speed and can surprise. Multimore can upset some more fancied rivals on best form. Happy Tango well-placed and looks a chance in race like this.
Race 2: Simply Maverick had no luck last start but keep following. Broke through for an easy win two starts ago, suggesting the penny has dropped, and Vincent Ho taking over the reins here is a positive. Can bounce back. Owners’ Praise looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form. To Infinity last-start winner over Simply Maverick who remains in the same grade, can run well again. Fearless Fire every chance last start but still ran a good race. Lovero down in class here and can surprise from barrier 1 under Chung’s claim.
Race 3: Red Hare King has been placed last two starts and deserves a win soon. Barrier 1 is key to his chances and he maps with every chance here. Total Power drops down in grade and start following. He should be suited by a true tempo if it eventuates. Samarkand winner of last two starts and looks a top chance. Super Baby good effort last start leading all the way to win, but under a very slow race shape. Hard to say he gets that same set up here. Beau Gosse can improve second-up from a break from a low draw after over-racing from a wide draw first-up.
Race 4: High Rise Soldier good performance when storming home for third place last start. Comes into a lower draw and can map handier here, which should make a world of difference. Talents Supremo last run was better than it reads and do not dismiss. Wood On Fire caught the eye last start when running home well from a wide barrier. He could map closer from a mid-draw here. Great Achiever caught the eye last start running home powerfully on debut. Sea Sapphire showed good speed to lead last start and gave a good sight.
Race 5: Gallant Valour well supported last start and won accordingly. Racing well since joining Richards, and should get every chance to make it two wins on end from barrier 2. Easy Snip was an easy last start winner and can repeat the dose, but barrier 11 will make it harder. Lyrical Motion changed stables recently and has improved after an easy last-start win. A jockey change from Badel to 10lb-claiming apprentice Wong is the query. Joy Coming always finishes close up and must be rated a chance at this level. Happy Fat Cat drawn well and should gain a nice run in transit.
Race 6: The focus lies solely around two horses here in the G3 January Cup. Happy Together changed stables recently to Frankie Lor and has improved big time. From barrier 3, should gain the perfect run in transit on his first try over 1800m. Helene Feeling smart 4YO with a good chance here and this will be a good guide for his 4YO Classic Series chances in the coming months. Sword Point will find this easier than last start and can run well. Money Catcher winner of this race last year and looks a chance again. La City Blanche well-placed and looks a chance in race like this.
Race 7: Escape Route looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form after a series of fourth-place finishes. Drawn well under Bowman, from where he maps with every chance. Lean Hero consistent form lately and can bounce back here from barrier 1. Univer- sal Horizon had excuses last start when racing wide without cover first-up. Blinkers go on first time second-up from a good draw. Romantic Laos always finishes close up and must be rated a chance at this level. Intrepid Winner last start winner who remains in the same grade.
Race 8: Healthy Healthy talented 4YO who has won three from four this term and should be able to continue his winning way. Copartner Ambition racing in career-best form and must be rated a good chance again. Slight query he doesn’t map as ideally as last time here. A Americ Te Specso form is good and must be rated a solid chance. Atzeni needs to make use of the low draw early. Brave Star nice horse who is a model of consistency and looks a chance. Celestial Colours having third start and may improve. Trialled okay recently and is improving with racing.