Recap by phillip woo

Third favourite Wild Boy tracked a group of five for the lead two off the stands side from a good gate, advanced to the front passing the 200m and kept on gamely to open his win account at race number four. He appears to have the ability to score another. Firming late Whistle Blower gave a good sight after jumped alertly from a difficult inside draw to share the lead in the centre of the course to hold off a luckless China Power for second. It was a positive run under his new trainer and he won't be far off a winning run. China Power had to duck and weave for a run over the final 400m. Sir John ran on well to secure a First-4 spot after travelling in midfield and three off the outside rails. Solar Spirit made his run second from the rear one off the stands side and closed off well to just miss a placing. Nazakat's Lad couldn't keep up the gallop 150m out after pressing the pace two off the stands side. Favourite Victory General yielded ground passing the 200m after being hard pressed at the 300m.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (037)-SHA LO WAN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1000Metres

CHANS DELIGHT was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever).

Before being allowed to race again, CHANS DELIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Just prior to the start being effected, TRENDIFUL became fractious and then was slow to begin.

SOLAR SPIRIT and CHINA POWER began awkwardly.

ENDORSING was slow to begin.

Shortly after the start, SIR JOHN became unbalanced after being bumped by NAZAKAT'S LAD.

Near the 800 Metres, SOLAR SPIRIT VICTORY GENERAL raced with its head on the side over the final 500 Metres.

Approaching the 300 Metres, TRENDIFUL got its head on the side and shifted in.

Passing the 150 Metres, NAZAKAT'S LAD was bumped by VICTORY GENERAL which in turn was bumped by WHISTLE BLOWER which got its head on the side and shifted out.

Near the 50 Metres, VICTORY GENERAL was crowded for room between NAZAKAT'S LAD and WHISTLE BLOWER (Z Purton) which continued to lay out under pressure.

Z Purton was advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground.

Y T Cheng (WILD BOY) was fined $3,000 for improper use of the whip in that he raised weal marks over the horse's left flank.

When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he had been asked to endeavour to lead on CHINA POWER.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount vigorously for a considerable distance in the early and middle stages in order to have CHINA POWER as forward as possible, however, CHINA POWER was not able to show sufficient early speed and consequently raced behind midfield.

He said when continuing to ride his mount along, CHINA POWER was momentarily inconvenienced by TRENDIFUL near the 700 Metres when that horse shifted in.

He said after this he continued to push CHINA POWER along to improve his position.

He added at about the 600 Metres he was positioned slightly to the outside of TRENDIFUL, however, it did not appear to him that horses positioned in advance of TRENDIFUL and outside that horse were travelling well enough to take him into the race and therefore as DARK CORE was racing to the inside of TRENDIFUL and was under heavy pressure, he believed it was in the best interests of CHINA POWER to shift to the inside of TRENDIFUL and obtain clear running.

He said therefore after the 600 Metres he directed CHINA POWER in across the heels of TRENDIFUL with a view to establishing running to that horse's inside, however, when doing so TRENDIFUL shifted in which resulted in CHINA POWER being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse for some distance.

He said as a result of TRENDIFUL shifting in, this created a run to the outside of that horse as WHISTLE BLOWER, which was racing in advance of TRENDIFUL, was some distance in front of that horse.

He said consequently approaching the 300 Metres, he directed CHINA POWER to the outside of TRENDIFUL and the horse was then able to finish off the race strongly.

C Y Ho was advised that the Stewards were satisfied that he had made every endeavour to position his horse as forward as possible and that they accepted his reasons for attempting to shift to the inside of TRENDIFUL after the 600 Metres.

However, he was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have committed to the outside of that horse sooner than he did after TRENDIFUL shifted in, resulting in CHINA POWER being disappointed for running to the inside of that horse.

After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on CHINA POWER at the request of Trainer A T Millard.

The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

Before being allowed to race again, CHINA POWER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of NAZAKAT'S LAD immediately following the race revealed the horse had bled from both nostrils.

A veterinary inspection of VICTORY GENERAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

VICTORY GENERAL, WILD BOY and WHISTLE BLOWER were sent for sampling.