Recap by phillip woo

Happy And Healthy responded nicely to Mathew Poon Ming-fai's to take control 280m out following a deep run worse than midfield to notch a first win in six tries over this trip. The 10-pound allowance was golden and it remains to be seen if he can repeat the dosage near the top of the class next time out. Favourite City Legend poked his head in front at the 300m following a handy run without cover and found one too good in the end. He's done very little wrong except salute the judge in his four starts and will be winning shortly. Merrygowin came no well after travelling one off in midfield to make it close for second. He's shown a lot promise in his four starts and will be leaving this grade shortly. Laugh Out Loud finished up nicely down the outside after travelling second from the rear following a slow break from a wide gate to fill a Quartet spot. He'll be hard to beat when he draws a gate and has gone well for an apprentice in the past. Wingold stuck on all right despite having to steady travelling midfield at the 500m. He's running consistently without menacing at this level following a Class Five win in January.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (575)-MOUNT BUTLER HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Metres

ROMAN IMPERO was withdrawn on 16.4.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (haematoma in right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter UNLEASHED DRAGON (D Whyte).

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

LAUGH OUT LOUD was very slow to begin and consequently lost a considerable amount of ground.

Before being allowed to race again, LAUGH OUT LOUD will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test.

As the start was effected, MASSIVE MILLENNIUM, which was fractious in the barriers, reared abruptly, resulting in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground.

Before being allowed to race again, MASSIVE MILLENNIUM will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial.

RAGING BULL began awkwardly.

BELOVED and ROBUST MOMENTUM bumped at the start.

WINGOLD began awkwardly, got its head up and then became unbalanced after being bumped by SPICY KAKA which shifted out.

Also at the start, UNBEATABLE GUTS, which was drawn outside WINGOLD, made contact with HAPPY AND HEALTHY (Apprentice M F Poon) which shifted in, causing both horses to become unbalanced and which resulted in HAPPY AND HEALTHY being turned in across UNBEATABLE GUTS as a result of being bumped on the hindquarters by that horse.

A short distance after the start, UNBEATABLE GUTS blundered badly when crowded for room between HAPPY AND HEALTHY and WINGOLD which continued to race tight outside SPICY KAKA.

When UNBEATABLE GUTS blundered, its rider, Apprentice H T Mo, was dislodged.

As the Stewards were satisfied that incident occurred as a result of both WINGOLD and HAPPY AND HEALTHY shifting ground, no further action was taken, however, Apprentice Poon was told to do what he can in similar circumstances to relieve any tightening to other runners.

After this incident, Apprentice Mo was examined by the Club's doctors and passed fit to fulfil his remaining race riding engagements.

The Veterinary Officer subsequently reported that UNBEATABLE GUTS had sustained a cut to the outside of the left front heel and lost its left front plate during this incident.

Near the 1350 Metres, CITY LEGEND shifted in and bumped WIN FOR CHARITY.

BELOVED, which was being ridden along to obtain a forward position, was inconvenienced in consequence.

Approaching the 1300 Metres, MERRYGOWIN and ROBUST MOMENTUM raced tight between BELOVED and SPICY KAKA which shifted in.

Passing the 1300 Metres, MERRYGOWIN was awkwardly placed outside the heels of ROBUST MOMENTUM.

Near the 1250 Metres, SPICY KAKA was hampered by the riderless UNBEATABLE GUTS which shifted in.

Making the turn at the 900 Metres, WINGOLD got its head on the side, shifted out and bumped SPICY KAKA.

Passing the 800 Metres, MERRYGOWIN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of RAGING BULL which was steadied to obtain cover behind UNLEASHED DRAGON.

HAPPY AND HEALTHY, which was following MERRYGOWIN, commenced to travel keenly and near the 750 Metres shifted out abruptly away from the heels of MERRYGOWIN and bumped WIN FOR CHARITY, causing both horses to become unbalanced.

Near the 650 Metres, HAPPY AND HEALTHY was bumped by MERRYGOWIN which shifted out.

Passing the 600 Metres, AH BO was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BELOVED.

For some distance approaching and passing the 600 Metres, WINGOLD got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of MERRYGOWIN.

Then for some distance approaching and passing the 500 Metres, WINGOLD got its head up when proving very difficult to manage and was checked away from the heels of MERRYGOWIN.

The racing manners of WINGOLD were considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, WINGOLD will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial around a bend.

After the 900 Metres, CITY LEGEND was left racing wide and without cover.

MASSIVE MILLENNIUM had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight.

Near the 350 Metres, MERRYGOWIN shifted out and brushed SPICY KAKA.

Passing the 200 Metres, RAGING BULL momentarily raced tight between AH BO which shifted out and WINGOLD which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MERRYGOWIN.

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

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

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

HAPPY AND HEALTHY and CITY LEGEND were sent for sampling.