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Badel and Britney shine as Atzeni kickstarts his season

Moves are being made on the track and off it as a new season gathers pace.

Fresh from a summer stint in Japan, Alexis Badel sealed a Sha Tin Sunday treble on Master of All in the nightcap.

Andrea Atzeni got his season up and running and completed a double when Jubilant Winner extended the fast start made by Kiwi handler Jamie Richards.

And HK’s sole female rider Britney Wong was another in double form, seeing her 10lb claim reduced to seven when blazing front runner Packing Bole completed a strong Sunday for File fancies.

Fab Four on the festive menu

Meanwhile, Monday brought news that will reverberate far beyond the HK jockeys’ room as Michael Cox of Idol Horse reported that Caspar Fownes wants to hire Joao Moreira as his stable jockey from next month.

The plan needs to be ratified by HKJC stewards but the return of the Magic Man – a four-time HK champion with a genuine global following – would revive memories of days when Moreira and current champ Zac Purton went toe to toe in title battles.

Add in Hugh Bowman – along with James McDonald returning for another short stint -and the HK jockeys’ room could end up as one of the strongest on the planet this winter.

But hosting an elite like that has consequences. And good riders who have blossomed of late could be left dining on scraps if the big four take over in the run-up to the HKIR meeting in December.

The good rides are spread around nicely on at Happy Valley on Wednesday, and four of the eight races look worth close attention.

1.40: The Community Chest Cup (1650m)

Proven front runners are thin on the ground in this tricky Class 3 and Atzeni will need to have a plan to get the best out of one his old favourites I CAN.

But Pierre Ng’s gelding progressed well last season and looked as good as ever on his return last week, smuggled down to the inside from gate 9 then running on strongly to go down by a short head and the same behind progressive Wrote A New Page and useful Highland Rahy.

A 2lb rise looks fair and this race, though open, is lacking in strong improvers. I Can has drawn gate nine again, hence the need for Atzeni to be on his toes, but all in all he looks the safe choice as he seeks his fourth course and distance success.

2.10: Hoi Mei Handicap (1200m)

Master Champion was another to shape well at last week’s Valley meeting, going down narrowly despite being short of room in the straight, and Karis Teetan will be aiming to make full use of the inside alley as he bids for a first win of the season.

Another strong showing is on the cards, but Aussie handler David Hayes has saddled a winner at all three meetings so far and HONEST WITNESS can keep the ball rolling under Purton.

This gelding, who carries the Archie da Silva silks made famous by star sprinter Silent Witness, progressed nicely in a light first season. He starts the season on a fair mark having been short headed at the Valley in July and a smooth recent trial success gives a broad hint that Hayes has him ready to roll first time out.

3.15: Repulse Bay Handicap (1000m)

This fiery Class 3 is loaded with speed and potential improvers and pricing it up is problematic.

The pace comes from Candlelight Dinner, Youthful Spirits and Superb Capitalist, while the potential improvers include Valley virgins La Forza and Justifying.

Friends Of Shajing is another live one after a notable debut here in July, but this is a 7-2 the field job whichever way you slice it, and the chance of a pace meltdown adds another layer of complexity.

3.50: Shek O Handicap (1650m)

Wednesday’s feature event looks a very strong Class 2 and there will be money for a wide range of horses, including last year’s Derby fourth Lo Rider and another useful member of last year’s classic crop in Californiatotality.

The pace will be on, with gallant old veteran Telecom Fighters heading a posse of pace horses that also includes Soleil Fighter and Voyage Samurai, and this is a race that’s bound to produce winners in the next few months.

File favourite STEPS AHEAD looks set to run his usual solid race, while WOODFIRE BRO will be an interesting longshot if double figure prices hold, but I don’t want to fritter Sunday’s profit and this fiery finale looks a watch and learn job from where I’m standing.

Wednesday’s Valley Views

• 1.40: I Can
• 2.10: Honest Witness

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