Recap by phillip woo

Mr Right kept finding after being shadowed for the lead to his outside by firming second favourite Best Step to notch a fifth career success over this Valley trip, his second this term. He'll need to play the waiting game again for a drop back into this class over this course and distance. Best Step rushed forward to park outside the leader and wouldn't go down without a fight to finish a clear-cut second in his first run over this course after two positive Sha Tin performances. He's a winner waiting to happen. Sky Treasure was niggled along to hold a position one off in midfield before letting down very well inside the final 150m to get up nicely to finish a clear third. On his six runs so far, he's clearly gone better over this course and should be better suited over the 1,200m. Very Rich Man kept on all right following a box-seat run in his first run back following lameness issues last month. He should remain competitive sprinting in this class. Lunar Zephyr ran on steadily late near the inside following a patient ride third from the rear from a wide gate. He has shown improvement in his past three of four starts following a gear change and switch to the Valley and isn't far off a winning run. Favourite Beauty Connection had every conceivable chance following a one-out, one-back run.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (584)-SIU SAI WAN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1000Metres

SAKURA FIGHTER began awkwardly and lost ground.

FISH N?? CHIPS (Apprentice H T Mo) began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between ROCKET LET WIN and BEST STEP which shifted out.

Apprentice Mo reported that in this incident his saddle shifted to the right, placing him at a significant disadvantage for the remainder of the race.

FISH N?? CHIPS subsequently travelled wide and without cover throughout the race.

Passing the 500 Metres, JOYFUL FOREVER got its head on the side and lay out.

BEAUTY CONNECTION lost its right front plate after the race.

When questioned, M L Yeung stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been asked to ride LUNAR ZEPHYR in about a midfield position or just worse than midfield with cover if possible.

He said the connections had been somewhat disappointed by the manner in which LUNAR ZEPHYR had been finishing off its races when ridden for speed since arriving in Hong Kong and as the horse was drawn the outside barrier tonight and the race appeared to have a number of horses engaged in it which had previously shown natural early speed, it was felt that riding LUNAR ZEPHYR forward may lead to the horse being left racing very wide and consequently not being able to finish off the race.

He said in the early stages he attempted to obtain a position in midfield, however, passing the 800 Metres was left racing very wide and therefore he elected to steady LUNAR ZEPHYR and obtained a position closer to the rail which resulted in the horse racing well back in the field.

He said ridden more quietly tonight, LUNAR ZEPHYR was able to steadily make ground rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight closed off the race fairly.

He added, in his opinion, LUNAR ZEPHYR finished off the race better tonight than it did when he had ridden it in a prominent position on one previous occasion.

A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY CONNECTION immediately following the race found the horse to have sustained a small overreach wound to the left front heel.

BEAUTY CONNECTION, MR RIGHT and BEST STEP were sent for sampling.