Happy Valley Trophy attracts very strong field The HK$2.3 million Happy Valley Trophy (Gr.3-1200m) takes place on Wednesday October 10th and the list of entries for the only Group race to be staged at Happy Valley during the season is impressive indeed. With a dozen live candidates for the Hong Kong International Races candidates in the line-up, the outcome should prove very revealing. It's worth noting that the average rating of each entry is 113 compared to 107 last year when Fairy King Prawn was successful. Some of Hong Kong's best sprinters will line up for this important stop to the top sprint races, including the Hong Kong International Races' Hong Kong Sprint. Don't miss it! Indigenous Former Horse of the Year, will be having his first outing of the new season. Oriental Express Fresh from a trailblazing effort in the National Day Cup on October 1st and he has winning form over Wednesday's trip. Cliffhanger Won the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup last month with Plenty-Plenty two and three-quarters of a length further back in sixth and a good run here will enhance his claims for a place in the Hong Kong Sprint. Plenty-Plenty The ever-consistent Plenty-Plenty, runner-up in this race last year, is also capable of a good showing and a second crack at the Sprint is well within his compass. Lucky Win Formerly known as Trillion Win from his days in Singapore. The track record holder for the 1200m at Kranji where he won on nine occasions, Lucky Win almost stole the Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Sprint with devastating early pace last May only to be cut down in the final strides by Iron Mask with Plenty-Plenty two and a quarter lengths further back in fourth place. There's no doubting his obvious ability but it will be interesting to see how he fares on his first run around a right-handed circuit. Champ De Union Formerly Sunderland, is the other debutant. This ex-German colt won the Group 3 Grosser Preis von Berlin over 1300m last year and his new trainer, David Oughton, will be hoping that he too can muscle his way into the HKIR picture. Charming City Last season's Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Charming City makes his seasonal reappearance. Kenwood Melody So consistent at the highest level last term, also returns. Kenwood Melody, remember, won the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup last season and found only Fairy King Prawn too quick for him in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy. Winning Counter Just prevailed from Our Class and Cliffhanger in the Group 2 Sha Tin Vase last season with Kenwood Melody further behind but that form was turned on its head last month in the American Club Challenge Cup. Our Class Rising stars Our Class will clash with Winning Counter for the third time with the score at one win apiece. Last month in the American Club Challenge Cup, Our Class, though he was quite well treated at the weights, defeated a strong field with great efficiency with Winning Counter 10 lengths adrift. Solid Contact Third in this race last year and the runner-up in 1999, has a score to settle with Cliffhanger from the opening day of the season. He failed to catch Ivan Allan's gelding in the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup by the narrowest of margins and he finds himself 2lbs better off with that rival. Proven on the track, he might just go one better. Prime Witness Prime Witness's form in the early part of last season that he too earned himself a berth in the Hong Kong Sprint. His form seemed to taper off a bit after that but he is no forlorn hope especially with David Hayes's horses in such tremendous form.