Lor, Badel expect a Healthy Happy New Year

Healthy Happy will chase redemption in the 2024 HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) for jockey Alexis Badel and trainer Frankie Lor.

Victorious in 2022 and second to Lucky Sweynesse in 2023, the front-running Healthy Happy returns for his third tilt at plundering New Year’s Day’s lucrative feature race at Sha Tin on Monday.

“The 1400 (metres) is good for him. This time he’ll carry a light weight and I hope he can run a good race,” Lor said. “The Hong Kong Mile (G1, 1600m) was quite strong, so I skipped that race to run him over 1400 metres.”

The seven-year-old faces difficult opposition, headlined by the Group 1-winning California Spangle as well as Beauty Joy, Red Lion, Fantastic Treasure, Rewarding Together, Atullibigeal and Taj Dragon.

“California Spangle usually leads, so I don’t mind if we sit second,” Lor said. “He’s (Healthy Happy) had nearly one and a half months off, which should be good, so he’s fresh – we gave him a trial and brought him back to Hong Kong (from Conghua).”

Set to break from barrier eight, Healthy Happy has raced 27 times in Hong Kong for HK$20.80 million in earnings. He boasts five wins in the city, while his most recent scalp came first-up this season in the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m).

Also trained by Lor and afforded a featherweight impost in Monday’s Group 3, the 94-rating Rewarding Together rises to 1400m for the first time across his 29-start career in Hong Kong.

“It’s looked like the distance has been a bit short across his last few runs, so I’m trying 1400 metres to see any difference in him,” Lor said.

Matthew Chadwick will ride Rewarding Together, who is a six-time winner in Hong Kong, from barrier five.

Taj Dragon is no stranger to Sha Tin’s 1400m chute. The Mehmas gelding has a quartet of wins over the course and distance for trainer Pierre Ng, including last start when defeating two Chinese Club Challenge Cup rivals – Fantastic Treasure and Atullibigeal.

“He pulled up well after his last race. To be honest, we didn’t expect California Spangle to be in this – we’re rated 40 points below him. We’re just looking for a good run,” Ng said.

Taj Dragon has banked HK$8.08 million across 12 starts in Hong Kong. He pairs with jockey Andrea Atzeni in barrier seven on Monday.

“He loves the distance and there will be good pace for him. I’m hoping he finishes strongly through the line with the light weight to hopefully get some prize money,” Ng said.

Fantastic Treasure represents David Hayes and is third-up in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup. The six-year-old was fifth at Group 2 level two starts ago before his close-up sixth in early December.

“I thought his last run was really good. I think he’s close to peak fitness, so he could easily run a good race,” Hayes said.

Lyle Hewitson partners Fantastic Treasure from barrier No 2.

Tony Cruz saddles California Spangle and Beauty Joy in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup.

California Spangle weakened to 13th at Group 1 level last start behind Golden Sixty at December’s HK$118 million Longines Hong Kong International Races.

“Hugh Bowman’s riding California Spangle and I’m very happy with his condition,” Cruz said.

A regular on-pacer, California Spangle has been assigned barrier No 1, while Beauty Joy has drawn gate No 4 with James McDonald engaged.

Meanwhile, Lor is planning to enter three runners in the 2024 HK$4.2 million G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on 10 January. The handler readies 2023 winner Money Catcher, Sword Point and Happy Together for the city circuit’s most-prized race.

“Money Catcher looks ok. He’s not a superstar in the morning,” Lor said. “The short straight at Happy Valley is good for Happy Together – he keeps improving and I want to see if he can step up to another level or not.” - Hong Kong Jockey Club

Race-by-Race Previews

Race 1: Gangnam Star has shown ability and gets his chance to win here. Give him another chance here on his third career start. Eighty Light Years last start placing was full of merit, nice effort and finds a winnable race. Patch Of Time having third start and may improve here. Purton rides and respect. Champion Instinct well-placed and looks a chance in race like this despite remaining a maiden. Has what it takes to show up here. Golden Luck never far away from the winner and could sneak a place under Bowman.

Race 2: Storm Rider turned in a very nice debut run and looks to have good ability. The wide draw is the concern, but he looks to have plenty of talent. Telecom Dragon form is good and must be rated a solid chance in a race like this. Speedy Fortune looks a solid good chance based on last start when returning to form, can go on with it now. Multidarling well-placed and looks a chance in race like this. Happy Golf had vet excuses last start (blood in the trachea) and forget the run. Chance on best form.

Race 3: Aestheticism rising in class and meets better quality horses but can measure up. Handy 4YO on the rise who can continue his winning way. C P Brave changed stables recently and has improved, evidenced by his big last start win. Romantic Charm good performance when storming home for a nice second last start when returning to form. Silver King has a top jockey in the saddle and that will help on his third local start here. Golden Samurai can upset some more fancied rivals on best form, but maybe he is better in Class 4.

Race 4: Perfect Peach will win in this grade very soon and he finds a race where he can bounce back. Open contest, but he has what it takes. Starship Eighty winner of last two starts and is a big chance here to post the winning hat-trick. Nordic Combined changed stables recently and has improved, will be charging home late. Apex Top form is good and must be rated a solid chance. Fire Ball backing up quickly from last week, can run well but the wide draw is far from ideal.

Race 5: Golden Rise looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form. Last start was much better than it reads in a slow-run race, has trialled well since and looks ready to win. Lucky Planet good performance when storming home for third place last start. Every chance from the low gate. River Views a fast beginner who can run well if he finds an easy lead, which he should. Fun N Glory can bounce back a winner anytime in this class. Dream Pursuer has dropped a lot in the ratings and can win in this grace anytime.

Race 6: Endeared looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form. He still can’t draw a gate, but barrier 10 is slightly better than recent starts. A bit of early luck and he can get the job done. Beato every chance last start but still ran a good race. He is knocking on the door. Smart Fighter should be highly suited by the drop back in distance. Golden Bull good performance when storming home for a nice second last start. Celtic Times had no luck when being crowded last start, overlook the run and consider again. Prior starts were good.

Race 7: mall and tricky race. California Spangle highly rated galloper who is hard to beat in this with Bowman back in the saddle. He can lead this and prove hard to run down. Beauty Joy clearly appears to be the biggest danger to the favourite, and expect a big run. He will be back in the run but charging home late. Red Lion should be highly suited by the drop back in distance. Healthy Happy faded late last start, chance to improve under right race shape. Runner-up in this race last year and can run well again. Taj Dragon promising type who continues to improve, looks well but this is his toughest test to date.

Race 8: Global Harmony slow to begin last start but stormed home late and was only narrowly beaten. With a clean start, he should be winning this easily and looks one to the better bets on the card. Midori Burly turned in a very nice debut run and looks to have good ability. He was a big price, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can prove the market wrong here. Sweet Encounter good performance when returning to form last start. Kaholo Angel nice 4yo with a good chance here with luck from out wide. Chiu Chow Spirit last start winner who remains in the same grade, should run well again.

Race 9: Mugen highly promising sprinter who appears to have a great chance to win and post the winning hat-trick. Gives the impression he was plenty of points in hand and is headed higher. Wunderbar nice 3yo with a good chance here and did not disgrace last start when beaten into second to Mugen. Ka Ying Rising created a huge impression on debut and looks talented. This is tougher - rising in class and meeting stiffer competition - but he looks promising. Prince Of Porty caught the eye last start when running home well. Jumbo Fortune backing up quickly from last week, can run well.

Race 10: Even race to end the card. Sweet Briar video replay showed the last run was very good and he has shown enough ability to take this out, if he runs a strong 1400m. Green N White talented galloper who is resuming from a break and should be going very close here. Beauty Fit has been knocking on the door and win won’t surprise anyone. Drawn well low to get all the favours. Blue Marlin caught wide last start and still ran well. Rattan Kingdom looked unlucky when being held up at a crucial stage last start, could run a cheeky race.