Hong Kong: Selections for Happy Valley April 23

Racing at Happy Valley begins at 6:40 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.

Race 1: FLAMINGO FLOWER HANDICAP

#4 Lucky Generations was a luckless ninth on his first try in Class 5 after copping a nasty check at the 200m before balancing up and closing off well. It was a much better run than it reads, and he can improve on his second attempt in the grade in what looks a wide-open contest. #1 Gimme Five is a 17-start maiden but has placed five times, including a last-start third at the bottom of Class 4. Now in Class 5 and drawn ideally in barrier 4, he gets his best chance yet to finally break through. #5 Island Golden ticks plenty of boxes with Hugh Bowman aboard, barrier 1, and the blinkers coming off. This marks his third run back in Class 5, and with a record of one win and a third in the grade, he's well placed to figure again. #8 Hoss will need luck from barrier 11, but with Zac Purton back in the saddle and a genuine tempo to suit if it unfolds, he'll be charging late—as is his usual pattern.

Race 2: FREESIA HANDICAP

#9 Mr Aladdin has been disappointing not to win a race from 20 starts—plain and simple. However, he has been hinting at a breakthrough since sliding into Class 5, and this week he receives a solid jockey upgrade with Hugh Bowman taking the ride. Despite drawing gate 11, Bowman should be able to cut across early and find a sweet spot just off what appears to be a genuine pace. #7 Verbier finally broke through at his 14th attempt last start over the extended mile, drawing clear by over a length after leading all the way. He's untested at this trip but his recent form holds him in good stead. #3 Kingly Demeanor is another pace influence and warrants respect on the class drop as a two-time Class 5 winner from seven attempts. From barrier 1, he'll get every favor in the run. #8 Super Hong Kong will likely drift back from barrier 12, but Zac Purton sticks and that boosts his chances. The 1800m is his minimum trip but he should be letting down late and be around the mark.

Race 3: LAVENDER HANDICAP

#1 Fortune Whiskey has done a good job this season, winning two from seven since joining the David Eustace yard. He's had excuses in his last two runs but still held merit despite finishing sixth and seventh respectively. He returns off a 42-day freshen-up and looked well in a recent trial, while barrier 2 gives him every opportunity to bounce back. #3 Swagger Bro lines up for his third attempt in Class 4 and, after a close-up third first time in the grade, was a luckless eighth last start when held up for the final 250m. Zac Purton takes the reins which boosts his chances, though barrier 11 is tricky. #4 Top Peak returned to form last start when closing strongly for fourth against the race shape, and he looks set to improve sharply again with Hugh Bowman aboard and barrier 3 in his favor. #7 Incredible Moment is a newcomer from the Mark Newnham yard who has trialed well at Happy Valley ahead of his debut. It's never easy to win first-up in Hong Kong, but he should be showing potential.

Race 4: GERANIUM HANDICAP

#7 Super Sixty won two starts ago in strong style before drawing wide in barrier 10 last time, where he was taken out deep at the 600m but closed off well into fourth, beaten just over a length. He now comes into barrier 1 which gives him every chance to bounce back. #5 Plentiful has been in great form this season, winning three from 10, and comes off a narrow last-start second. With Andrea Atzeni back in the saddle and drawn barrier 2, he looks a major player again. #6 All's Well caught the eye on debut—he wasn't the quickest away but ran on well into sixth, beaten only a length and a half in the same race as Plentiful. He's open to sharp improvement second-up. #1 Thunder Prince is edging closer to a breakthrough in Class 4, and his last-start fast-finishing fourth on his second attempt in the grade puts him firmly in the mix under Hugh Bowman.

Race 5: THE LUSITANO CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP)

#1 Jumbo Treasure is a nice four-year-old in the making who, after two promising runs over 1000m at Sha Tin, stepped up to 1200m third-up and delivered impressively. Despite drawing wide in barrier 13, he surged straight to the front and never looked back, scoring a dominant all-the-way win by two lengths. This doesn't look a tougher assignment, and he should be moving his way into Class 3 with back-to-back wins. #10 Bienvenue has shown glimpses of talent at Sha Tin, including two runner-up finishes in strong form races. Zac Purton takes over the reins and a switch to the city circuit may spark further improvement. #3 Flying Wrote jumps from barrier 1 after drawing widest last time, and this inside draw is a big plus—as seen two starts back when narrowly beaten into second from gate 1 behind Ace Power. #12 Draco has been consistent since joining Ricky Yiu, posting two third-place finishes from four runs. Andrea Atzeni takes the ride this time, which might be the push he needs to break through.

Race 6: HEATHER HANDICAP

#11 Courier Magic has been knocking on the door for a win since joining Manfred Man's stable but things went pear-shaped last start when he copped a bad check at the 200m, which ended his run. He gets another chance here with a jockey change as Alexis Badel takes the reins. #5 Firefoot showed a good return to form last start when third to Harmony Galaxy, and he appears poised to follow up with another strong run, reuniting with Zac Purton who knows him well. #2 Sky Vino is a promising three-year-old with more to come but has another tricky draw to overcome after a late-fading fourth from barrier 11 at this course and distance last time. He now gets a senior rider aboard with Hugh Bowman replacing the apprentice. #4 Ace War turned in his best run yet two starts ago with a closing third behind Gold Master before an excusable 12th when things didn't go his way. A soft run from barrier 1 gives him a chance to bounce back to his prior form.

Race 7: KALANCHOE HANDICAP

#5 King of Fighters is edging closer to a breakthrough Hong Kong win, having finished runner-up in two of his five local starts. Last time out, he was sent out favorite and took a sit off the leader from barrier 2 but faded late into fifth. A quieter ride is expected this time if the stewards' notes are any guide, and with Zac Purton taking over from barrier 3, he gets every chance to finally shed his maiden tag. #6 Power Koepp is intriguing on the seven-day back-up. He's clearly turned a corner since joining Mark Newnham, with an impressive Class 4 win two back and a solid second to Giant Leap here last week. From barrier 2, he maps ideally again. #3 Beauty Infinity pulled up with blood in the trachea last start, which explains the poor run. He's better than that and had scored here the start prior, so can bounce back provided he's healthy. #4 Lucky Eight has trialed sharply between runs following a last-start second to Beauty Infinity, and he's not without claims in a fairly even and competitive Class 3.

Race : ORCHID HANDICAP

#9 Sparkling Fellow was desperately unlucky when third over this distance up the Sha Tin straight last start. He was badly held up on the rail from the 350m to the 50m before finding clear air and closing in strongly to be beaten just one and a quarter lengths. Now fifth-up in Hong Kong, he looks ready to break through. #7 Casa of Honor made a promising debut when jumping from barrier 10 at this course and distance, mapping close to the speed and staying on well for third to Colourful King. He can only improve for that effort. #2 Youthful Spirits continues to run well without winning—it's now been 315 days between drinks—but he has finished runner-up to the progressive Colourful King in his last two starts. He'll jump, run, and lead as he usually does and give another honest sight. #12 Parents' Love steps into Class 3 for the first time after a strong season with three wins and five placings from 10 starts. He too races on speed and will be up there alongside Youthful Spirits setting the tempo.

Race 9: ROSELLE HANDICAP

#3 Beauty Alliance returns to his happy hunting ground following a disappointing 12th in the Hong Kong Derby. Boasting a perfect two-from-two track and distance record and having trialed well since the Derby, he looks poised to return to the winner's enclosure. #7 Excellence Value can secure the run of the race from barrier 1 as he steps up in trip after winning his first local race two starts ago over 1650m, followed by a close-up third. He's looked sharp in a recent trial and appears to have more to come for the Mark Newnham yard. #4 Fallon missed by a neck last start when rising to 2200m, and the drop back to this distance should suit—he's relished this course and trip previously with a win and a second from two starts. #8 Charity Gain adds cheekpieces for the first time as he chases a Class 3 win at his fourth attempt. He maps well from barrier 2, and dropping back in trip looks key to his chances, boasting two wins and a second from four starts over this distance.