Richards Aims for Strong Start to Happy Valley Season with Multiple Horses

Jamie Richards will look to kick off the Happy Valley season in style with a team headlined by Storming Dragon in the Class Three Wan Chai Handicap (1,200m).

The six-year-old son of Star Turn performed consistently at Happy Valley throughout last season and has had two solid trials leading into his first-up performance.

The four-time winner will receive the services of Brenton Avdulla to help overcome a wide draw of barrier eight and should benefit from a strong pace.

“He’s a consistent horse. He’s no spring chicken any more, but he always runs really consistently, so hopefully he’ll do the same again on Wednesday night. I think as he’s getting a bit older, he might need a run or two, but when trainers say that, they usually don’t,” Richards said.

“His biggest attribute is his consistency and he never puts in a bad run, so we’re looking forward to getting him back to the races. He’s got a slightly sticky barrier, but he’ll be back a bit and charging.”

Sunday’s Serenade will kick off the season at his favourite course and distance where he is a two-time winner in the first section of the Class Four Kwun Tong Handicap (1,650m).

Despite also receiving a draw of barrier eight, the six-year-old will have Zac Purton on board to give him every possible chance, and should benefit from a fitness edge with two lead-up trials.

“He’s in good form, he’s trialled well – one of our better chances of the night. Again, a bit of a sticky gate, but he sort of gets back a little bit as well and hopefully the speed will be on and he’ll be charging at them again,” Richards said.

“He’s a consistent horse and looking forward to getting him back to the races. There’s a couple in there that have got to a reasonable form from the back end of last season, you’ve got six runners who have won or placed in their last start at the end of last season.”

Purton will also jump aboard Samarkand in the Class Three Central Handicap (1,650m), another who has drawn barrier eight but is a winner at the track and trip.

“He got injured partway through last season and made a really quick recovery from that. Unfortunately, he was supposed to run on the last day of last season, but he couldn’t get in and has had two trials, he’s in good form. He’s a bit older as well but he’s a happy old horse, expecting him to run a good race,” Richards said.

“He’s got a bit of a sticky gate as well, he likes to go forward, if he had drawn low we probably would have been more confident, but we’ll leave it up to Zac to try and get into a good position.”

Swagger Bro drops to Class Five company in the second section of the Admiralty Handicap (1,200m), after being unlucky to score up in grade last season. The six-year-old will have the blinkers reapplied, and be piloted by Alexis Badel.

“He’s another horse that’s sort of knocking on the door. Again, he’s had a couple of trials, draw is a little bit sticky, blinkers going back on. Hopefully he can have a bit of luck the first half of the race and if he does then he’ll put up a good performance. He’s a consistent horse,” Richards said.

Von Baer rounds out Richards’ chances on Wednesday in the first section of the Class Five Admiralty Handicap (1,200m), with Matthew Poon Ming-fai in the saddle.

“He hasn’t drawn very well at all. He’ll probably have to go back a little bit but he’s been trialling well. It’s a Class Five, anything can happen, but barrier 12 makes it difficult,” Richards said.

“I just thought he was 10 per cent too keen, just up on the bridle a fraction, so we’ve taken the visors off, but he’s been in good form up until now and happy with the way that he’s going.”