Recap by phillip woo

Firming favourite Disciples Twelve settled one off in midfield, swung the final bend with two wider out and let down willingly to win going away 100m out. Great Run settled in a handy spot between rivals, cornered three-to-four deep and ran down Affluence Of Rain close to home for second. Affluence Of Rain settled fourth along the rails and kept on all right to just hold down a placing with every chance. Tarzan I Am was up pressuring the leader Apollo Cavalier, straightened four deep and kept plugging away to just miss a placing in a much-improved run with a return to the Valley. All Win Boy ran on steadily fourth from the rear without menacing. Apollo Cavalier held a near length advantage rounding the final bend and was stopping 100m out. Wonder Choice made some ground down the outside after travelling second from the rear in a better second-up effort with a step up in distance. Seasons Star wasn't involved at any time after travelling off the course from a wide gate near the back.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (248)-BLUE POOL HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Metres

After being loaded, YOUNG RANGER became fractious.

Before being allowed to race again, YOUNG RANGER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test.

FLYING TOURBILLON and YOUNG RANGER bumped at the start.

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, ALL WIN BOY failed to muster speed and shortly after the start was shifted across behind runners.

After the 900 Metres, GREAT RUN got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied to allow TARZAN I AM to cross.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, FLYING TOURBILLON, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of DISCIPLES TWELVE, resulting in FLYING TOURBILLON becoming unbalanced and losing ground.

Rounding the Home Turn, GREAT RUN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TARZAN I AM and then in the early part of the Straight had difficulty obtaining clear running between that horse and APOLLO CAVALIER.

Over the concluding stages, SEASONS STAR was awkwardly placed behind STEP FASTER and inside WONDER CHOICE and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race.

TARZAN I AM got its head on the side and lay in under pressure in the Straight.

Throughout the race, STEP FASTER travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, N Rawiller stated that prior to the race he had a discussion with Mr D E Ferraris, the trainer of AFFLUENCE OF RAIN, regarding how that horse should be ridden in tonight's race.

He said during this discussion he advised Mr Ferraris of his view that the horse did not appear to respond to being ridden with the whip when he rode it a number of starts ago and that he felt this view was reinforced after he had viewed videos of the horse's recent races.

He said in the Straight he rode the horse out vigorously hands and heels and it responded well to being ridden this way.

He said he did consider using the whip on AFFLUENCE OF RAIN at about the 100 Metres, but he felt that as the horse was giving its all, he did not feel it would benefit from being struck with the whip and for this reason he continued to ride the horse out vigorously hands and heels to the end of the race.

When questioned, D Whyte stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been asked to attempt to position SEASONS STAR behind the speed if possible.

He said despite being ridden along in the early stages, SEASONS STAR did not show early speed and when STEP FASTER, which was drawn to the inside of SEASONS STAR, was aggressively ridden, it soon became apparent to him that he would not be able to cross that horse.

He said therefore he elected to shift across behind STEP FASTER and attempted to obtain cover behind that horse.

He said however that at this time LAUDABLE VIRTUE, which was racing in a three wide position, obtained the position behind STEP FASTER and he therefore attempted to steady SEASONS STAR further to see if he would be able to obtain cover.

He said due to the circumstances of the race SEASONS STAR was then required to travel wide for the majority of the race and was much further back in the field than had been intended.

A veterinary inspection of SEASONS STAR immediately following the race revealed the horse to have sustained a laceration to the right hind leg.

DISCIPLES TWELVE and GREAT RUN were sent for sampling.