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Happy Valley Racing Tips for February 19 - Spicy Gold can return to the winner's circle tonight

Steve Bennett

Editor

Last updated: 19 Feb 2025

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Steve Bennett 19 Feb 2025

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Happy Valley hosts a 9-race event on Feb 19.
Star Mac to win Race 6, last start winner, Brenton Avdulla to ride.
Spicy Gold the best of the night in Race 8, track specialist, drawn the fence.
New Forest to win Race 9, third-up, Lyle Hewitson on board.

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Happy Valley Horse Racing (Getty Images)

Happy Valley racing takes place on Wednesday, February 19, with a 7-race program set down for Happy Valley racetrack.

Race 6: No.5 Star Mac
Race 8: No.5 Spicy Gold
Race 9: No.5 New Forest

We have the best bets picked from across the meeting with a Best Bet and other value selections for Happy Valley racetrack.

Race 6: No.5 Star Mac

The David Hayes-trained Star Mac has found his mojo this time in and ticks enough boxes that suggest he can go back-to-back tonight.

Last start, the Heroic Valour gelding was having his 18th race start and was seeing the Happy Valley track for the first time which seemed to do the trick as he recorded his first win on Hong Kong soil by taking out a Class 3 Hcp over 1800m.

With Brenton Avdulla in the saddle for the first time, the gelding drew wide (gate 10 of 12) and settled last, ten lengths off the speed.

On the turn, Avdulla had him railing like a greyhound and saving a ton of ground, zipped through the gap and went on to win comfortably in the end, putting more than a length on them over the line.

Drawn much better tonight in gate four, he still maps to drift back and take a trail and will be looking for a similar run home with Avdulla steering the ship again.

Coming off a four-week freshen-up, he looks hard to hold out in this contest.

Race 8: No.5 Spicy Gold

The Mark Newnham-trained Spicy Gold is in great touch this time in and gets all the favours here that point to another Happy Valley victory tonight.

Last start, the So You Think gelding had no luck when trapped wide most of the way, seeing him finish mid-field (beaten just a length) in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1200m.

Leaving the gates, Alexis Badel pushed him forward in sight of settling nearer the fence but was caught out three-wide without cover.

Despite the run, he still hit the line strongly and collected fifth prize on the night.

Badel sticks with him here where he gets the gun-run in gate one and maps to settle in the first half-dozen, on the fence.

The track specialist boasts three wins and two runner-up finishes from his eight starts at the track and distance and meeting similar company tonight, he gets the chance to bounce back in this contest.

Race 9: No.5 New Forest

Mark Newnham saddles-up New Forest here who makes his Happy Valley debut tonight and only new to the Hong Kong circuit, looks well placed here to score a third-up win in this event.

Last start, the American-sired gelding stepped out onto the all-weather track at Sha Tin and did well to hang on to third place in a Class 3 Hcp over 1650m.

Unhappy with the speed, Matt Chadwick took him to the lead mid-race and in the run home, looked a serious chance of stealing the race, only to be run down late by a couple of swoopers.

The former Australian galloper came off four-straight podium finishes before stepping onto Hong Kong soil and hasn’t been far away in his two starts here to date.

Back on a turf track tonight, Lyle Hewitson returns to steer the ship with Newnham fitting a tongue tie for the first time.

Carrying 55kgs here, he meets topweight and race favourite Soleil Fighter 6kgs better at the weights and fitter for those two runs this preparation, he should prove hard to beat in this contest.

Verdict

Happy Valley - February 19

Our best bets for Happy Valley:

Star Mac

Race 6 Winner

@11/5 - 2 Units

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Spicy Gold

Race 8 Winner (Best Bet)

@5/2 - 5 Units

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New Forest

Race 9 Winner

@5/1 - 2 Units

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with referral code BETSAU

Download the dabble app, enter referral code BETSAU to enjoy Dabble, the betting app with a difference! Bet as normal with & also be part of Australia's betting community where you can follow punters and sports stars, copy their bets, have banter with your mates & watch Sky Racing channels. 18+. T&Cs apply. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

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