Recap by phillip woo

Tonyboy rolled forward to sit one off on the back of the speed from a tricky gate, advanced to the front 280m out and kept on gamely for a first win after placing in nine of 18 other starts. Flying Moochi pressed forward from a wide gate to eventually assume the front from All Together, cornered a length on top and grudgingly gave way. Jolly Banner saved ground in midfield, came two off the fence at the 350m and was closing the gap nicely with each stride. He's crying out for a longer trip. Verbinsky finished off well after travelling third from the rear to snatch fourth at a price from raging favourite My Darling in a promising debut. My Darling made his run at the rear following a sluggish break from a wide gate, peeled into the open with one wider out upon straightening and ran on steadily thereafter. Supreme Falcon travelled three deep fore of midfield, went to third four deep at the 300m and was one-paced over the final 150m. A Beautiful made some ground after travelling behind midfield. He's an interesting one if he can get a drop in class. Flying Force came up flat inside the final 150m.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (457)-SAI VAN BRIDGE HANDICAP (Sec1) - Class 3 - 1200Metres

FLYING FORCE began only fairly and shortly after the start was bumped by JOLLY BANNER which shifted out.

SUPREME FALCON began awkwardly and then shortly after the start got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of ALL TOGETHER.

Making the first turn near the 900 Metres, VERBINSKY was crowded for room between VICTORIUS and MY DARLING which got its head on the side and shifted out across the heels of SUPREME FALCON.

For some distance after the 900 Metres, FLYING FORCE proved very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed close to the heels of JOLLY BANNER which near the 800 Metres momentarily raced tight inside A BEAUTIFUL which shifted in when being steadied away from the heels of TONYBOY.

Passing the 700 Metres, FLYING FORCE continued to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of A BEAUTIFUL, resulting in MY DARLING being bumped and carried wider.

For some distance approaching the 500 Metres, FLYING FORCE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPREME FALCON.

Passing the 500 Metres, A BEAUTIFUL momentarily raced in restricted room between SUPREME FALCON and LAMAROSA which shifted to the outside of ALL TOGETHER.

Passing the 400 Metres, JOLLY BANNER was held up for clear running behind LAMAROSA.

VERBINSKY, which was following JOLLY BANNER, was shifted out from behind that horse in consequence.

In the Straight, A BEAUTIFUL raced with its head on the side and lay out under pressure.

Throughout the race, SMART SALUTE travelled wide and without cover.

Also for the majority of the race, VICTORIUS travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, J Moreira stated that he had been instructed to ride MY DARLING in a forward position and it was hoped that the horse, from barrier 10, would be able to obtain a position in the first three.

He said just prior to the start being effected MY DARLING commenced to become unsettled and as the start was effected began only fairly.

He said he looked to his inside and ascertained that a number of horses drawn more favourably than MY DARLING were being ridden along, therefore he made the decision not to persevere with riding MY DARLING forward, instead he elected to shift the horse across behind runners.

He said after having begun only fairly, he was mindful that MY DARLING was having only its second race start in Hong Kong and its first around a bend and he believed that to have ridden the horse aggressively given the manner in which it began may not have been in its best interests.

He said after shifting across behind runners, MY DARLING was hampered on a number of occasions in the middle stages by FLYING FORCE which shifted out.

He said this resulted in MY DARLING becoming unbalanced and being taken wider.

He added after shifting MY DARLING out in the Straight, the horse finished off the race only fairly.

He said whilst MY DARLING did not take up a forward position during the race as intended, this was solely due to the manner in which the horse began.

Trainer J Size confirmed that he had instructed Jockey Moreira to obtain a forward position as the horse had shown speed in a number of its barrier trials.

He said after considering the manner in which MY DARLING began, he was comfortable with Jockey Moreira's decision to shift the horse across behind runners rather than persevere to obtain a forward position.

Having regard to all the circumstances, J Moreira's explanation was accepted.

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

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

MY DARLING, TONYBOY and FLYING MOOCHI were sent for sampling.