Grace can do Wong a favour

HAPPY Valley's compact setting can provide Wong Tang Ping's Amazing Grace with his first Hongkong win in tonight's second race.

Staying's his game and ridden by Tony Cruz, the five-year-old New Zealand private purchase will appreciate every bit of the 2,230 metre trip.

He faced the starter twice last season, racing over trips far too short.

However, after the benefit of two warm-ups runs this season he showed he was ready by running a close-up third over 2,000 metres on the equitrack.

Dropped back to 1,800 metres at his next start in a highly competitive Classes 1 and 2 event, he never really got into his stride and finished mid-field.

Stepped back up to course and distance last start, he raced genuinely throughout but could not withhold the challenge of Class One horse Victory And Glory near the post and had to settle for the runners-up spot, although there were many useful horses in his wake.

He won his last start in New Zealand over 2,000 metres prior to coming here and clearly needs a trip to get into his stride and produce his best.

An extra 19 pounds goes into the saddlebags tonight but there does not appear to be any opposition like Victory And Glory, so he should be extremely hard to beat.

Thunder And Gold has been slightly disappointing this season but trainer Brian Kan is not shy in entering him and this will be his sixth start of the season.

However, he's a horse who races best when allowed to bowl along in front and with Jimmy Ting bringing his weight down to 113 pounds and drawn in barrier two, he should be prominent for a long way and may just hold on for the quinella or tierce.

South China's King has good form over the trip and although he has been working very well may just be reaching his mark and will be tested in this. Spirits Bay does not possess much early pace but, nevertheless, should be running on at the finish as will Valiant Lancer.