Recap by phillip woo

Veteran City Power was on his lonesome in midfield and one off the rails, swung the final bend with two wider out and let down well to get up in the shadows of the post for an upset win. Favourite Lovely Naughty rolled forward out wide from gate nine to settle deep without cover in third, cornered four deep and ran on well only to get out-bobbed near the wire. Always Wonderful went forward from a wide gate to share the lead outside Tang Palace, shook that one off at the 150m and was swamped near the wire. It was a good run in defeat and he won't be far off a win on this surface. Tang Palace grudgingly gave way late. Plunged late, Sledge Hammer was getting going late without menacing three from the right after travelling fourth from the rear. Ribot Legacy kept on evenly following a prominent run near the rails.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (301)-THE PATH OF PROGRESS HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Metres

SOUTHCHINA COMMAND began only fairly.

LOVELY NAUGHTY shifted out at the start and hampered EVER SHINY.

From the outside barrier, PRECIOUS GEM was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, SLEDGE HAMMER failed to muster speed.

Approaching the 800 Metres, RIBOT LEGACY got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of TANG PALACE.

After the 800 Metres, MIGHTY GAINS was crowded for room between LOVELY NAUGHTY and GOOD YIELD which got its head on the side and shifted out.

Making the first turn near the 700 Metres, GOOD YIELD got it head on the side and hung out badly, resulting in MIGHTY GAINS being severely hampered when taken wide.

GOOD YIELD continued to hang out until after entering the Home Straight, resulting in MIGHTY GAINS being further hampered for some distance.

GOOD YIELD then finished tailed out.

A veterinary inspection of GOOD YIELD immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

As GOOD YIELD had been barred at its most recent start for hanging out, the Stewards ruled that prior to being permitted to race again, GOOD YIELD will be required to pass a series of consecutive official barrier trials around a bend and amongst runners and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Approaching the 300 Metres, SOUTHCHINA COMMAND, when being shifted to the inside of GOOD YIELD which was giving ground, was checked away from the heels of PRECIOUS GEM which shifted out.

The Stewards issued a charge against G Mosse, the rider of 5th placegetter, SLEDGE HAMMER, for a breach of Rule 100(2) in that he failed to ride his mount out all the way to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards.

The particulars of the charge were that he negligently failed to direct SLEDGE HAMMER to the outside of LOVELY NAUGHTY over the latter stages of the race into clear and uninterrupted running between that horse and CITY POWER, the consequence being that SLEDGE HAMMER was unable to be tested over the concluding stages due to being held up for clear running behind LOVELY NAUGHTY.

G Mosse pleaded not guilty to the charge and asked for Mr C S Shum, the trainer of SLEDGE HAMMER, to be called as a witness.

After considering all the evidence, G Mosse was found guilty of the charge and was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 5 February 2015 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays).

The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 25 January 2015.

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration the nature of the offence and Jockey Mosse's poor record in respect of breaches of this Rule of Racing.

A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY GAINS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

CITY POWER and LOVELY NAUGHTY were sent for sampling.