With three runners in the race, it wouldn’t take a genius to think that trainer David Ferraris was expecting big things from the opener at Happy Valley last night.
The plan worked with son Luke winning his first race in Hong Kong- and for the old man- on “Go Ballistic”. For those who know the man known as “Darth”, this was the omen bet of the night.
The Ferraris stable had the first, third and fourth placings. These included a very good ride by Alex HW Lai on outsider Antonyma. Never heard of the horse either.
The odds are that Lai will not ride more than three winners this season. Having said this, from the handful of rides he’s had, he’s riding well, something proven by placing on Trust Me last week at 6-1. Don’t be surprised if he soon rides his first winner this season for one of the local winners and at big odds.
As for this first race, having watched a rerun of “Meet The Fockers” earlier in the day, and haven’t seen him in a couple of years, David Ferraris seems to have morphed into Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Fockers.
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Still, it was, quite rightly, an emotional family moment after the race with Luke being bear hugged and lifted up by “Darth”. Mum Pam joined in the celebrations, but didn’t lift her hubby off the ground. It was the night’s Feel Good moment and only Steptoe would begrudge it.
The second race saw a close finish with the determination of Karis Teetan winning the day whereas Vincent Ho didn’t detonate the first leg of the 6up when he easily won aboard favourite Spicy Grill and notched up HIS first winner of the season.
It was like a Happy Wednesday birthday bash though the choices of rides by one particular jockey continues to confound many.
Maybe this jockey is waiting for Christmas or for at least two of the city’s big stables to bring out their big guns. So far, they’ve been shooting blanks.
As we enjoyed a very good laksa at our favourite Malaysian restaurant in Hong Kong, we heard that Baltic Whisper, trained by Danny Shum, had been backed for a stack in the fourth race of the night- from $42 to $7.8.
Despite having little or no form, Baltic Whisper saluted- and extremely easily.
The pinpoint accuracy of some these plunges landed so far this season are quite extraordinary.
Why bother listening to tipsters, even if it’s Yoda?
It was also another birthday present- and not just for those who were part of The Big Plunge. It was the first Hammer Time winner of the season for jockey Antoine Hamelin.
2 to 1 favourite Fireball was never ever in the race and kept up the dismal run on the night of the Dennis Yip-Zac Purton unhappy meal combo.
It’s easy to say after the horse has bolted and Fireball had been doused that the top weight might have had something to do with it. This wouldn’t have offered much solace to those who watched their Triple Trio and 6up bets going up in flames.
Thinking lightning will strike twice, in the next race, the Danny Shum trained Spicy So Good was backed from over 20s to around 7s. Alas, it came last.
The winner was Great Harvest ridden by Alexis Badel. Race favourite Stormtrouper, another Yip-Purton combo, at least ran into the quinella.
Vincent Ho brought up a double and landed the Country Club Challenge Cup when, mercifully, everyone’s best bet of the night-Fa Fa-took out race six for Trainer Frankie Lor. Happy Birthday, everyone!
The Zac Attack gave David Hall his birthday present when Classic Posh gave the Australian Trainer HIS first winner of the season- and at 13 to 1. It was a beautiful ride, especially if one backed the Posh one.
The last race? Another birthday present, this time for Matthew Chadwick, and his first winner of the season with a continuation of his remarkably successful association with 20-1 pop Harmony And Rich.
For the races over the weekend, if we were to hand out a tip, it would be to follow those still winless jockeys and trainers in need of Birthday presents.