A competitive nine-race evening programme of Happy Valley will take shape under the lights at Hong Kong on 23 December (Tuesday), featuring a varied schedule of handicaps across sprint, middle-distance and staying trips. The Happy Valley Race Cards 23 December will run from 18:40 through to 22:50, with races spanning Class 5 to Class 2 and total prize money topping $3.12 million for the final event.
The card will present a balanced mix of speed-focused contests and stamina-testing races, offering varied challenges for runners across multiple grades throughout the evening.
Race 1, the Mercury Handicap, will open proceedings at 18:40 over 1200 metres for Class 5 runners, carrying prize money of $875,000. BLAZING BEAM, GENERAL SMART and NEBRASKAN will headline the six-runner field, alongside ROBOT KNIGHT, HAPPY BOYS and SKY SONG, as the meeting begins at a sharp tempo.
Race 2, the Venus Handicap, will follow at 19:10 over 1650 metres for Class 4 horses, with prize money of $1,170,000. NOBLE PURSUIT and FUN TOGETHER will be joined by AMAZING AWARD, TURIN WARRIOR, PRESTIGE RICKY and PING HAI COMET in a tactical middle-distance contest.
The second Venus Handicap will be staged as Race 3 at 19:40 over the same distance and class, again worth $1,170,000. SHANGHAI STYLE, QUANTUM PATCH and THE AZURE will line up against GOOD GOOD, JUSTIFY YOURSELF and RAGGA BOMB in another evenly matched field.
Sprint action will return in Race 4, the Jupiter Handicap, at 20:10. This Class 4 contest over 1200 metres will offer prize money of $1,170,000, with SUGAR SUGAR, VICTOR THE RAPID and LEAN MASTER among the leading names, alongside GIANT BALLON, GIDDY UP and LAKESHORE HERO.
Race 5 will continue the Jupiter Handicap theme at 20:40, again over 1200 metres for Class 4 runners, also carrying $1,170,000. BIGTIME GENERATION, FATAL BLOW and CALIFORNIA BLITZ will feature prominently, with GOOD LUCK HAPPY, PRECISION HOPE and WINNING NOW completing the line-up.
The longest race of the evening will arrive at 21:10 with Race 6, the Saturn Handicap. This Class 3 contest over 2200 metres will be run for prize money of $2,050,000, testing the stamina of ROMANTIC THOR, WROTE A NEW PAGE, LIVEANDLETLIVE, SNOWFIELD, TURIN MASCOT and ENTHRALLED.
Race 7, another Jupiter Handicap, will be staged at 21:45 over 1200 metres for Class 4 runners, carrying prize money of $1,170,000. FORTUNE WHISKEY, THE ALL OUT and FREE PONY will face competition from GENIUS BABY, SWEET BRIAR and CHEVAL VICTORIOUS.
The penultimate race, the Uranus Handicap, will take place at 22:15 over 1200 metres for Class 3 horses, with prize money of $1,860,000. WONDER KIT, KING MILES and SYMBOL OF STRENGTH will line up alongside CHARMING BABE, LIM’S SHAVANO and PRESTIGE SUPERIOR.
The meeting will conclude at 22:50 with Race 9, the Neptune Handicap, a Class 2 contest over 1650 metres carrying prize money of $3,120,000. HELENE FEELING, STEPS AHEAD and SOLEIL FIGHTER will head the field, with HUGE WAVE, KAHOLO ANGEL and HARMONY N BLESSED also set to compete.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.