Hong Kong Preview: Punters look for Cheerful Days

The much-improved #2 Cheerful Days looks likely to continue his progress through the Hong Kong rankings with victory in the Mars H. (1650m, or just over a mile) at Happy Valley Dec. 15.

Cheerful Days began his Hong Kong career last season, racing consistently without victory for his first seven starts before breaking through at Happy Valley Apr. 14.

He trained off after that and then took a couple of starts to warm up this preparation, but he has now won his last three races, all with late rallies.

Barrier 11 doesn’t normally help at Happy Valley but given that Cheerful Days is set to go back anyway, that shouldn’t be a problem. And while he's up seven pounds in the ratings, he looks capable of handling that well.

#7 Exceptional Nice has remarkably finished second at his last five starts and could well find himself in the same situation this week. At his most recent effort, he was defeated by another fast-rising horse with a string of consecutive wins in Fa Fa.

#3 You’remyeverything has impressed in two Hong Kong starts to date, winning his debut with a late rush over 1200m prior to another fast-finishing effort for fourth in his most recent effort. Stepping up sharply in distance, he has won over 1600m in Australia, and the question is whether he’s seasoned enough for the trip rather than his ability to handle it.

Topweight #1 Everyone’s Delight should not be ignored by multiples punters. He faded to finish ninth at his last start, but he had drawn the outside and used up a lot of energy going forward at the start. With barrier two he should be competitive again.

#11 Fast Pace and #12 Surrealism are other horses that appeal for the exotics.

BEST PLAY

• Hong Kong, Race 7 at Happy Valley, Wednesday December 15
• $10 win/$20 show: #2 Cheerful Days
• 50c trifecta: 2,3,7 with 2,3,7 with 1,2,3,7,11,12

BONUS PLAY – NEW ZEALAND

Ashburton, Race 8, #3 Megalomaniac, $6 win/$12 show – Won maiden in spectacular fashion at end of November and looks good enough to win again.