Recap by phillip woo

Odds-on favourite Joyeux sat outside the leader Spitfire, drew level at the 250m and gained the upper hand 150m out for a narrow win and first at his ninth outing. Spitfire made the running, cornered a half-length on top and went down fighting in an improved run with a drop in class. Mi Savvy settled fourth along the rails, straightened four deep and was closing the gap late to come out a clear third. Glory Sunshine was given a treat of a ride to land in the one-out, one-back spot from a wide gate, straightened nearly four deep and plugged away to inject some value into the Quartet in a better effort with a drop in class. Jolly Spring ran on steadily without menacing after travelling midfield and one off the rails following a tardy break. Friends Of Yan Oi made his run three deep with cover behind midfield, swung the final bend with one wider out and got going when the race was all but over. Dining Star was ridden quietly third from the rear, angled into the clear five-to-six deep at the 200m and made some ground without menacing. Specked late, All Friends only got by beaten rivals widest out after travelling second from the rear.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (432)-MONG KOK HANDICAP - Class 4 (Special Conditions) - 1200Metres

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP and JOLLY SPRING bumped on jumping.

ALL FRIENDS began awkwardly, shifted in at the start and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of JOYEUX.

As the start was effected, DINING STAR lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently began awkwardly and then lost ground after becoming unbalanced.

From the outside barrier, FRIENDS OF YAN OI was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Rounding the Home Turn, GLORY SUNSHINE and MI SAVVY bumped due to MI SAVVY shifting out.

GLORY SUNSHINE then shifted out further, resulting in STAR OF WAI BO having to shift out away from the heels of that horse.

CHEERS VICTORIES and FRIENDS OF YAN OI, which were following, were hampered in consequence and ALL FRIENDS, which was following FRIENDS OF YAN OI, was also shifted out away from the heels of that horse.

The Stewards considered a protest/objection lodged by J Moreira, the rider of SPITFIRE, which finished second, against the winner JOYEUX (Z Purton) alleging interference to his mount near the 100 Metres.

After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, it was found that near the 250 Metres SPITFIRE and JOYEUX brushed due to both horses shifting minimal ground.

It was further established that passing the 100 Metres JOYEUX shifted in and bumped SPITFIRE before being corrected by its rider.

The Stewards found that whilst there was some contact between the horses near the 100 Metres, having in mind the manner in which both runners finished off their race over the final 100 Metres, they could not be comfortably satisfied that the contact between the horses had materially affected their respective placings at the end of the race.

Accordingly, the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

Throughout the race, STAR OF WAI BO travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground.

JOYEUX and SPITFIRE were sent for sampling.