Happy Alexis Badel to get Together with Frankie Lor and discuss targeting Group Three January Cup

Alexis Badel will speak with Frankie Lor Fu-chuen about Happy Together contesting the Group Three January Cup (1,800m) after the four-year-old miler won the Class Two Saturn Handicap (1,650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Sent off at $8.35 on his first outing at the city circuit, the former Richard Gibson-prepared gelding made it three wins from four starts for his new trainer and put a potential appearance in Happy Valley’s only Group race on his radar.

Settling in midfield, Happy Together tracked the slow early tempo that Drombeg Banner set – the first two sectionals were run nearly three seconds outside standard time – before Vincent Ho Chak-yiu made a bold mid-race move aboard Galaxy Witness to hit the front 700m from home.

Urged forward on the home turn by Badel, Happy Together immediately responded, took the lead 100m out and edged clear of his rivals in the closing stages. Hitting the line with plenty of conviction, the son of Dragon Pulse finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Galaxy Witness, with odds-on shot Chill Chibi disappointing favourite backers in third.

After Badel’s fourth win from seven rides on Happy Together, the French jockey suggested a tilt at the January Cup early next month could prove profitable.

“He’s a good horse. Last time, I rode him probably like a Hong Kong horse, which is not totally suitable for him,” Badel said. “That means, the pace was slow, so I anticipated and I was wrong. He’s a horse with a good turn of foot, no matter what the pace looks like.

“This time, I wasn’t panicking. I was more trying not to be too ambitious and give him more chance. Happy Valley suits him well, so why not the January Cup?

“It’s up to the trainer – that’s not my position – but the way he won was pretty impressive, so why not?”

It was a night of winning performances from horses in new yards this season, with Pierre Ng Pang-chi scoring at a 14th consecutive meeting with another former Gibson-trained galloper, Life Is Good, en route to a double – the card-closing Class Three Neptune Handicap (1,200m) triumph of Healthy Healthy secured braces for Ng and Badel.

Making his first appearance for the Ng stable after seven months off the track, Class Four Jupiter Handicap (1,000m) winner Life Is Good recorded his first success since his pre-import victory in Ireland 546 days ago.

“I didn’t expect him to win like that, but I expected him to have a good run,” Ng said.

“He’s had five trials. The first three were disappointing because he stopped quickly and wasn’t fit at all. In the fifth trial, we tried to preserve him and finish off well, which is what he did tonight. Hopefully, he stays sound and gets another win in the future.”

Former Tony Millard-trained speedster Gallant Valour took out the second section of the Class Four Mars Handicap (1,000m) for Jamie Richards, who recorded a double when To Infinity was triumphant in the Class Four Uranus Handicap (1,650m).

“He got a good run in transit, and James gave him a nice ride,” Richards said of Gallant Valour. “He got a bit of luck at the top of the straight, and wanted to have a look around a little bit when he got to the front.

Richards, whose partner, former New Zealand champion jockey Danielle Johnson, is about to give birth to their first child, arrived at Happy Valley with just seven wins to show for his efforts this term. He left the city circuit on nine victories.

“It’s been a very frustrating start to the season,” Richards said. “Hopefully, we can build a bit of momentum up now. You just need a barrier draw and a bit of luck. Hopefully, it continues to flow our way.”

Crystal Powerful won the Class Five Venus Handicap (1,200m) for Cody Mo Wai-kit, who inherited the Australian import from Danny Shum Chap-shing.

In the opening race of the night, Intrepid Winner claimed the Class Three Mercury Handicap (2,200m) for Michael Chang Chun-wai, who picked up the stayer from retired handler Millard.