An in-form Harry Bentley is ready to step “into unknown territory” and tackle a wide berth aboard Watch Buddy as the consistent speedster chases a hat-trick of Happy Valley victories on Wednesday night.
Fresh off a weekend double at Sha Tin, Bentley arrives at the city circuit with a solid book of nine rides headlined by the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Watch Buddy in the Class Three Kwoon Chung Bus Cup (1,200m).
After failing to get on the board in four Sha Tin starts to begin his career last season, Watch Buddy has since notched four wins from six appearances at Happy Valley – with Bentley in the plate for his two most recent successes.
The progressive four-year-old will aim to bag a third win on the bounce on Wednesday’s programme but must carry 134 pounds from the widest barrier in the nine-runner field.
“His form speaks for itself, but the only frustrating thing is our draw in nine of nine,” Bentley said. “That’s the way it is and he’s going to have to overcome it.
“If you look at his draws in all of his runs in Hong Kong, he’s only been drawn badly once. We’re stepping into unknown territory a bit really.”
Watch Buddy has repeated a similar formula in all of his four victories. Jumping from either barrier one or two, he has settled better than midfield before surging for home and prevailing by a small margin.
While the Yiu-trained speedster gave a good account of himself when a close second in his sole effort from a wide gate at Sha Tin last April, Bentley admits Wednesday’s task could require alternative tactics.
“I’ll speak to Ricky and see what we think is the best way to attack it,” Bentley said. “He’s got speed, so it could be an option to go forward. But, equally, we don’t want to use him up too soon.
“Although it’s going to be a hard task again from right at the top of Class Three, he’s done nothing to suggest he can’t do it again at this level off a heavier weight.”
Serangoon is another of Bentley’s midweek mounts who will have to defy a wide barrier in the Class Four Trans-Island Chinalink Handicap (1,800m).
Drawn in gate 11, the Tony Cruz-trained gelding will bid to snare consecutive wins after he got off the mark in Hong Kong over the same course and distance last month.
“Unfortunately he hasn’t been graced with a good draw,” Bentley said. “We may have to ride him a bit more patiently and that’s going to be slightly different. He’s a horse who just stays and stays. You could see last time he did his best work in the closing stages, so hopefully he can do the same again.”
Among the rest of Bentley’s book, the 31-year-old nominated Lucky Eight as a runner to watch in the Class Three New Lantao Bus Handicap (1,650m).
“I think Lucky Eight is a good ride also, he’s not been beaten too far in his races,” Bentley said. “I rode him this morning and he feels like he’s going really well, so he might run a nice race.”
H Z Tourbillon, Big Two, Atomic Force, Ace Power, Cordyceps One and Lucky Planet complete the Briton’s Happy Valley rides.
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