Recap by phillip woo

Raging favourite Dashing Fellow landed a one-off spot in fourth from a wide gate, worked to the front 250m out and drew clear for a second win from nine outings. Forever Accurate kept up a good gallop following a box-seat run for second despite a rise in class. Superoi settled fifth from the rear and one off the rails after a slow break, swung the final bend with three wider out and closed off well for a placing. Hit A Home Run made his run at the rear and finished up nicely when pulling out for a clear run with two wider out at the 300m. He was in need of the run following a break and must be a chance when next stepping out. Numero Uno was ridden quietly on this occasion third from the rear and made a steady bid late near the inside. None Other settled three deep with a bit of course worse than midfield from a wide gate, straightened six deep and plugged away without ever looking a hope despite a move to blinkers. Ho In One made some ground out wide without menacing from the tail of the field. Oriental Prosper weakened as expected after setting a good pace.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (518)-THE HONG KONG LIONS CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 3 - 1400Metres

HAYMAKER and FOREVER ACCURATE bumped heavily at the start.

In the early stages, HIT A HOME RUN was steadied and shifted across behind runners.

From a wide barrier, HO IN ONE was also taken across behind runners in the early stages.

After the 1200 Metres, HAYMAKER got its head up and shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of DASHING FELLOW.

SUPEROI, which was following HAYMAKER and also proving difficult to settle, shifted out, resulting in INVINCIBLE FRESH being hampered and taken wider.

Passing the 1100 Metres, HO IN ONE was steadied when crowded for room inside INVINCIBLE FRESH which shifted in abruptly away from the heels of NONE OTHER.

After this, INVINCIBLE FRESH proved very difficult to settle when awkwardly placed behind NONE OTHER for some distance.

HO IN ONE lost its right front plate passing the 900 Metres.

HIT A HOME RUN was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and at the 200 Metres got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of SUPEROI, resulting in HIT A HOME RUN being awkwardly placed behind that horse.

After this, HIT A HOME RUN continued to lay in under pressure.

Approaching the 200 Metres, K Teetan (DR GOOD HABIT) dropped his whip.

Throughout the race, LUCKY HAMMER travelled wide and without cover.

After the race, N Rawiller expressed concern regarding the action of HAYMAKER.

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

The performance of HAYMAKER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, HAYMAKER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

When questioned, D Lane (NUMERO UNO) stated that he had been asked to lead if possible, however, if the pace was too fast, to obtain a position behind the leaders.

He said after NUMERO UNO began only fairly, he rode his mount along in the early stages to make up lost ground, however, NUMERO UNO was quickly crossed by GRACEFUL KINGDOM shortly after the start.

He said when GRACEFUL KINGDOM was steadied to allow horses from wide out to obtain forward positions, this resulted in NUMERO UNO settling further back in the field than had been intended.

He said after the 1200 Metres he rode NUMERO UNO along to maintain the position behind GRACEFUL KINGDOM, however, NUMERO UNO was reluctant to maintain this position when racing tight inside DR GOOD HABIT.

He added, despite being ridden along, NUMERO UNO was unable to maintain its position and consequently DR GOOD HABIT was able to shift in to follow GRACEFUL KINGDOM in front of NUMERO UNO.

He said these factors resulted in the horse being much further back in the field than had been anticipated.

He said in the early part of the Straight NUMERO UNO quickened well, however, over the final 200 Metres finished off the race only one-paced.

When questioned, K Teetan stated it was anticipated that there were a number of runners which were capable of leading and therefore it was expected that DR GOOD HABIT would be able to obtain a good trailing position from barrier

4.

He said in accordance with his instructions, he rode his mount aggressively in the early stages, however, DR GOOD HABIT was reluctant to stretch out.

He said throughout the early stages DR GOOD HABIT was inclined to lay in away from other runners and gave the impression it was reluctant to maintain its position when having to race amongst other horses.

He said because of the manner in which DR GOOD HABIT was racing in the early stages, the horse settled further back in the field than had been intended.

He added DR GOOD HABIT did not travel well at any stage of the race and was disappointing.

A veterinary inspection of DR GOOD HABIT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of GRACEFUL KINGDOM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

DASHING FELLOW and FOREVER ACCURATE were sent for sampling.