Recap by phillip woo

Kirov has a knack of drawing bad gates which was his demise last season and first-up this term but from gate six, he was too good with a move down the outside from behind midfield. He was nicely rated 48 prior to this run and from a similar or better gate, he can ring up another. Amazing Feeling finished strongly after a patient ride second from the rear from a wide gate to fill the Quinella spot. It was his fifth placing from nine starts and he should be winning shortly. Robust Momentum defied a deep run in midfield to place third for a third time from four starts this term. Racing consistently well but is on his mark. Cour Valant was only swamped in the final few metres for a placing after charging forward three deep without cover to hit the front 600m. He only needs to draw a gate. Quantum Dash was held up until the 160m when trying to close the gap from near the back in a promising first-up effort.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (143)-HIBISCUS HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Metres

As the start was effected, BEAR CHUM bounded in the air and consequently was slow to begin.

PACKING GO GO shifted out on jumping and bumped SIGHT SEEING.

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS failed to muster speed and shortly after the start was shifted across behind runners.

Also from a wide barrier, AMAZING FEELING was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, COUR VALANT was left racing wide and without cover and after the 900 Metres was allowed to improve its position to assume the lead near the 600 Metres.

Near the 950 Metres, POWER DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SMILING GLORY.

Passing the 600 Metres, POWER DRAGON was left racing wide and without cover.

At the entrance to the Straight, SIGHT SEEING was shifted out across the heels of POWER DRAGON to obtain clear running.

QUANTUM DASH had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 250 Metres.

S de Sousa (POWER DRAGON) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 250 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of SIGHT SEEING, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

S de Sousa was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 23 November 2016 and to expire on Monday, 28 November 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In addition, S de Sousa was fined $20,000.

Passing the 200 Metres, AMAZING FEELING was shifted to the outside of KIROV to obtain clear running after being disappointed for running between that horse and ROBUST MOMENTUM which shifted out after being bumped by SIGHT SEEING.

Approaching the 100 Metres, SMILING GLORY was bumped by BEAR CHUM which shifted to the inside of POWER DRAGON to obtain clear running.

Close to the finishing line, BEAR CHUM shifted in and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of COUR VALANT and consequently was unable to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race.

When questioned, K Teetan stated that, from barrier 8, he was asked to ride OCTAL LUCK with cover unless the horse began very well and was able to take up a forward position without having to be made use of.

He said OCTAL LUCK began satisfactorily, however, he believed that he would have had to ride the horse along to obtain a forward position, therefore he steadied OCTAL LUCK in the early stages and obtained a position with cover behind midfield.

The Stewards will interview Mr A Lee, the trainer of OCTAL LUCK, regarding the tactics adopted on that horse prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting on Wednesday, 2 November 2016.

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that OCTAL LUCK had bled from both nostrils.

When questioned regarding the performance of SMILING GLORY, C Schofield stated that the horse was able to obtain a prominent position in the early stages without having to be ridden along and SMILING GLORY then travelled well in the early and middle stages.

He said he felt the tempo of the race was not fast and SMILING GLORY, which had the blinkers applied today, did not over-race and, due to these factors, he expected the horse to finish off the race well.

He said however, after travelling strongly rounding the Home Turn, he placed SMILING GLORY under pressure in the early part of the Straight and the horse did not quicken as he expected it would.

He said SMILING GLORY commenced to give ground after the 200 Metres and over the last 50 Metres in particular was very disappointing.

C Schofield added that SMILING GLORY's best form of late had been on the All Weather surface.

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

A veterinary inspection of POWER DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

KIROV and AMAZING FEELING were sent for sampling.