Happy Valley Racing Tips for September 16 - Max Que looks the goods, 1st-up

Steve Bennett

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Last updated: 7 minutes ago

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Steve Bennett 7 minutes ago

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Happy Valley hosts an 8-race meeting on Wednesday 16 September.
Romantic Gladiator to win Race 6, track specialist, 1st-up tonight.
Horsepower a sound each-way chance in Race 7, track & trip winner, well drawn.
Max Que the best of the night in Race 8, track winner, Alex Badel rides again.

Happy Valley Horse Racing (Getty Images)

Happy Valley racing takes place on Wednesday, September 16 with an 8-race program set down for the Happy Valley racetrack.
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.3 Romantic Gladiator
Race 7: No.3 Horsepower
Race 8: No.8 Max Que

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.3 Romantic Gladiator

The Danny Shum-trained galloper resumes off the season break here and ticks enough boxes to suggest he can get the job done in this event.

Last start, the Irish-bred gelding ended his last campaign by beating all but one home in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1650m.

From gate one, Zac Purton had him box-seating on settling to the turn, then coming off heels, he gradually got the better of the leader but was grabbed on the line by a swooper, leaving him with the silver medal for the race.

Drawn in gate six tonight, he maps to cross and settle in the first half-dozen with Angus Chung as the new pilot.

After the claim he drops 2kgs for this assignment and with a trouble-free run, he should prove hard to hold out in this contest.

Race 7: No.3 Horsepower

Frankie Lor saddles-up Horsepower here who comes off the season break with a trial under his belt and a resume that suggests he can figure in the finish of this event.

Last start, the Harry Angel gelding ended a long campaign by finishing down the track in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1000m.

Up against it from the outset, the topweight drew gate 11 (of 12) and settled near last to the turn, then carrying 61kgs, he tracked wide on straightening and never stopped trying, but was too far back to make an impression, beaten 3.5 lengths on the line with Luke Ferraris aboard.

Back on fresh legs tonight, he draws ideally in gate two and maps to do no early work as he settles in the back half of the field with Andrea Atzeni as the new pilot.

Placed second in a recent trial and boasting three previous first-up wins, he looks well worth an each-way ticket in this contest.

Race 8: No.8 Max Que

The Mark Newnham-trained galloper has been a model of consistency in his racing career find the podium no less than 14 times from his 22 starts to date and fresh up tonight, looks a serious contender for the big prize in this event.

Last start, the Akeed Mofeed gelding ended his last preparation by finishing an unlucky fourth in a Class 2 Hcp over 1400m at Sha Tin.

Alex Badel had him settled mid-field early before losing his place and ending up near the back to the turn, then held-up on straightening, he finally found clean air but despite doing his best work over the final 100m, he was unable to bridge the gap, finishing just behind the placegetters, less than a length from victory.

Resuming from the season break tonight, he draws well in gate five and maps to settle near mid-field with Badel in the saddle again.

Yet to miss a podium finish in four starts at ‘the Valley’, he steps-up to the 1650m here which looks ideal for him and already a winner when first-up, he is the testing material in this contest.