Showers and thunderstorms haven’t dampened the mood of Alexis Badel as he prepares to reunite with Happy Together, an improving son of Dragon Pulse, in the HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (28 April).

“I think rain is alright. I wouldn’t say it’s negative and I wouldn’t say it’s positive (for Happy Together). We’ll just let it be – I’m not worried about the weather,” Badel said. 

Badel, 34, is currently in the midst of yet another fruitful season in Hong Kong, netting 32 wins this term to extend his overall tally to 232.

Happy Together has returned five of those victories for the Frenchman this campaign. The five-year-old has won on a good-to-yielding surface before, while his biggest scalp came in the HK$4.2 million G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at the start of 2024.

“He’s been incredible this season. He has to take on the best horses in Hong Kong over this trip, it’s obviously a big step up but I’m confident the horse is going to respond well and try his best,” Badel said.

The Irish-bred – trained by Frankie Lor – finished fifth in the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) at the start of April behind Beauty Joy.

“Last time he had excuses as we came back from 1800 to 1600 metres, which is never easy sometimes. I thought on that day he had excuses but he still ran very well and I am hopeful that he will put up a good performance,” Badel said.

Romantic Warrior, Straight Arron, Massive Sovereign, Nimble Nimbus, Five G Patch, Sword Point, Hishi Iguazu, Prognosis, North Bridge and Dubai Honour also hold entries for the FWD QEII Cup.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast throughout this week and on FWD Champions Day.

David Hayes is enjoying a solid season with 37 wins. He saddles Harmony N Blessed (119lb) and Nervous Witness (134lb) in the Class 2 Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1000m) at Happy Valley tomorrow night (Wednesday, 24 April).

“Nervous Witness has an awkward gate (nine). He’ll roll forward, he’s probably the obvious leader in the race. If they leave him alone, he’ll be very hard to beat and if he’s taken on then he’ll find it hard,” Hayes said.

Harmony N Blessed is seeking back-to-back wins and steps away from gate three.

“It’s an upper-class sprint and it looks like there’s going to be a lot of speed. From that barrier he should be able to sit on the back of that speed and hopefully be competitive again,” Hayes said.

Francis Lui saddles Gallant Waking in the Class 3 Seoul Handicap (1800m), the final race of the programme.

“He has good form but he always carries top-weight. The draw is a little bit better this time and I think he has a chance. He’s an honest horse,” Lui said.

The handler is preparing Golden Sixty for Sunday’s HK$22 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m). Hong Kong’s champion horse has won the last three editions of the race.

“He’s (Golden Sixty) good. The rider is happy with his form and he’s coming up good. Thursday (25 April) he will gallop on the grass, we might follow another horse,” Lui said.

Wednesday’s (24 April) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 6.40pm with the Class 3 Jeju Handicap (1000m).