Recap by phillip woo

Sharp Sailor circled the field at the 750m to hit the front 600m out and kept finding after straightening three lengths on top to open his win account at start 11. He had put the writing on the wall when a badly hampered fifth two back over the Sha Tin 2,000m and will remain competitive at 1,800m or further. Early favourite Prawn Baba stayed on nicely after chasing the speed to finish a clear-cut second despite a sharp step up in distance in his initial run at the Valley. He's a winner waiting to happen over a mile or further at either course. Late-fancied favourite Victory Boys got shuffled back to be worse than midfield coming to the final bend but still rallied all right to fill a placing. He might be better suited over slightly shorter distances. Happy Contender wasn't too far away from a placing after getting going from behind midfield. He's honest but keeps finding one or a few too good. Lotus Strikes Back got going when the race was all but over after straightening with all ahead of him. He doesn't have many points in hand.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (283)-MARS HANDICAP - Class 3 - 2200Metres

REDWOOD BABY was withdrawn on 21.12.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FULL GLORY.

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

UNIQUE JOYOUS began awkwardly.

From the outside barrier, SHARP SAILOR was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

After the 2000 Metres, SHARP SAILOR commenced to race keenly and was steadied away from the heels of ALLCASH.

At the 1700 Metres and again passing the 1600 Metres, PRAWN BABA was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of HO HO FEEL which shifted in.

JOLLY GENE and ALLCASH, which raced wide and without cover in the early stages, were both allowed to improve their respective positions closer to the rail approaching the 1200 Metres.

As PRAWN BABA (Z Purton) commenced to improve to the outside of ALLCASH approaching the 600 Metres, ALLCASH shifted out which resulted in both horses making contact.

As a consequence of the contact, PRAWN BABA then lay in which placed ALLCASH in restricted room between PRAWN BABA and outside the heels of JOLLY GENE.

For some distance thereafter, PRAWN BABA continued to lay in as it improved in advance of ALLCASH, causing ALLCASH to be momentarily inconvenienced near the 500 Metres.

HO HO FEEL, which was trailing ALLCASH, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse as it endeavoured to shift out to improve.

Z Purton was advised that whilst the Stewards were satisfied that he made sufficient effort to prevent PRAWN BABA from shifting in in this incident, nonetheless he was reminded of his responsibility to leave comfortable racing room for runners to his inside.

When questioned, O Doleuze (HAPPY CONTENDER) stated that on the first turn he was able to shift in from a four wide position to assume a prominent position behind the leading runners which was in keeping with his instructions.

He said as the race progressed, due to the circumstances of the race, HAPPY CONTENDER was shuffled back to a midfield position albeit trailing PRAWN BABA which was a favoured runner.

He said along the Back Straight when the winner SHARP SAILOR made a forward move, he attempted to shift out to follow that horse, however, VANILLA improved quickly to his outside which prevented him from being able to follow SHARP SAILOR forward into the race.

He added when the tempo then quickened appreciably HAPPY CONTENDER was left flat-footed and took some time to gather momentum before closing off the race well.

A veterinary inspection of HO HO FEEL and ALLCASH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

VICTORY BOYS, SHARP SAILOR and PRAWN BABA were sent for sampling.