Recap by phillip woo

Wah May Baby enjoyed an uncontested lead, straightened a length on top and kept up a strong gallop to make it two on the trot despite a return to Class Three to land a betting move. Da Vinci settled in the box seat, stayed to the inside upon straightening and was clawing back the margin late. Excel Oneself settled one off in second, straightened three deep and peaked on his run 100m out with every chance. Pearl Win settled one off the rails in fifth, rallied four deep upon straightening and ran on steadily to secure a Quartet spot. Plunged late, Shining Champion enjoyed a nice run in midfield with cover, swung the final bend five deep and ran on without menacing. Debutant Joy Luck Win caused a chain reaction in behind him when switching to the rails in midfield at the 1,000m, straightened one off the fence and kept on evenly. Peace N Prosperity was crowded soon after the break, then was forced four deep when avoiding an incident at the 1,000m, swung the final bend with one wider out and was making some headway late. He had excuses. Mellifluent was badly hampered along with Flying Tourbillon and Always Win at the 1,000m and neither were factors in the run.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (596)-OWL HANDICAP (Sec1) - Class 3 - 1200Metres

MELLIFLUENT began only fairly.

PEACE N PROSPERITY was crowded for room on jumping between SHINING CHAMPION and FLYING TOURBILLON which shifted out.

From the outside barrier, ALWAYS WIN was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, JOY LUCK WIN (M L Yeung), when being shifted across behind PEARL WIN, was severely checked after striking the heels of PEARL WIN which was being steadied in order to obtain a trailing position behind DA VINCI which was also being steadied to obtain cover behind WAH MAY BABY.

When JOY LUCK WIN was severely checked, that horse shifted in abruptly, causing MELLIFLUENT to strike the heels of that horse, to blunder and be severely checked.

MELLIFLUENT then shifted out abruptly, causing FLYING TOURBILLON to be severely checked when crowded for room inside BRILLIANT DREAM which became unbalanced.

ALWAYS WIN, which was following FLYING TOURBILLON, was also severely checked and PEACE N PROSPERITY was badly hampered.

The Stewards, in assessing this incident, acknowledged that PEARL WIN and DA VINCI steadying at this time of the race had contributed to the incident although their respective riders had not restrained their mounts unduly.

It was also established that M L Yeung's focus at that time was towards MELLIFLUENT to his inside rather than runners in advance of JOY LUCK WIN, principally PEARL WIN.

M L Yeung was advised to remain alert to the changing circumstances of a race so as to ensure that horses are not placed in precarious positions close to the heels of other runners.

For some distance approaching and passing the 800 Metres, FLYING TOURBILLON, which was travelling keenly, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of JOY LUCK WIN.

JOY LUCK WIN had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight.

DA VINCI was unable to obtain clear running until passing the 150 Metres.

Near the 100 Metres, PEACE N PROSPERITY got its head on the side, shifted in and raced tight outside BRILLIANT DREAM.

Throughout the race, ELITE SPIRIT travelled wide and without cover.

A veterinary inspection of PEACE N PROSPERITY and MELLIFLUENT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

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

PEACE N PROSPERITY, WAH MAY BABY and DA VINCI were sent for sampling.