Recap by phillip woo

Best Reward came from the clouds with a weaving run following a patient ride second from the rear to get up in the shadows of the post for a third straight win and first on this surface. He was suited by the pace but really has turned things around in recent runs and remains one to follow over 2,000m and further. Favourite Gorgeous Again was just denied a fourth win on the bounce after poking his head in front 60m out following a rails run in midfield. He's going great guns and certainly has another win in him. Allcash made his move 500m out following a one-off run worse than midfield to hit the front approaching the 200m but found a couple too good in the end. He's a winner waiting to happen at this level. Blazing Pass made his usual late bid to come out a distant fourth following a rails run behind midfield. He's at a high in the ratings but continues to find the line well. Full Glory was ridden for luck from a wide gate and made some ground late. He's an interesting one when he draws a gate in this class. Po Ching Treasure set a good pace and only succumbed in the last 150m. He has been a disappointment this term but gunning him to the front and allowing him to roll along might best suit him.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (629)-CARIBBEAN SEA HANDICAP - Class 4 - 2000Metres

GORGEOUS AGAIN began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped ALLCASH.

From a wide barrier, FULL GLORY was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

BLAZING PASS lost its right front plate after passing the winning post on the first occasion.

Approaching the 600 Metres, FULL GLORY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEST REWARD which shifted out.

Passing the 200 Metres, GORGEOUS AGAIN raced tight inside GARLIC YEAH which shifted in under pressure.

Passing the 150 Metres, CLOUD NINE, which was giving ground, was steadied away from the heels of PO CHING TREASURE which got its head on the side and shifted in.

Z Purton (BEST REWARD) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of TERRIFIC MASTER, resulting in that horse having to be checked away from the heels of BEST REWARD and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

Z Purton was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 28 May 2017 and to expire on Thursday, 1 June 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Purton's good race riding record.

Near the 75 Metres, BLAZING PASS was directed out away from the heels of GARLIC YEAH to continue improving.

When questioned, M L Yeung stated that as BEST EFFORT was stepping up in distance to 2000 Metres for the first time, it was anticipated that the horse would have sufficient natural early speed to take up a forward position from barrier

3.

He said he was therefore asked to let the horse use its early speed and allow it to obtain a forward position without riding it along He said BEST EFFORT was crowded for room on jumping between PO CHING TREASURE and ASHKIYR, both of which shifted ground and this resulted in him having to ride BEST EFFORT along for a short distance to ensure that it maintained its position between those horses.

He said after this BEST EFFORT was able to obtain a forward position outside PO CHING TREASURE without having to be ridden along.

He added when PO CHING TREASURE was hard ridden to his inside, he remained racing outside that horse and commenced to steady his mount after passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He said when he did this BEST EFFORT commenced to travel keenly and would not relax until near the 1400 Metres.

When questioned regarding his riding of CLOUD NINE after the 1600 Metres, K Teetan stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been asked to ride the horse positively in the early stages to obtain a forward position as it had previously been successful when ridden in this manner.

He said it was explained to him that CLOUD NINE is one-paced and therefore leading would give it the best opportunity to finish off the race strongly.

He said he had to ride his mount aggressively to cross runners to his inside and after passing the winning post on the first occasion was left racing in a position three wide and without cover.

He said as the tempo of the race was quite genuine in the early stages, he elected to attempt to obtain a trailing position behind BEST EFFORT passing the 1600 Metres rather than continue to race wide and without cover.

He said as he was doing this, the leaders slackened the tempo marginally and as CLOUD NINE was proving difficult to steady to obtain a trailing position behind BEST EFFORT, he therefore allowed his mount to improve forward of BEST EFFORT approaching the 1200 Metres.

He said after shifting in to race outside the leader PO CHING TREASURE, he felt that as that horse had earlier been steadied, he therefore believed that there was an opportunity to use CLOUD NINE's momentum to continue forward and cross PO CHING TREASURE.

He said however that after the 1000 Metres PO CHING TREASURE was ridden to maintain its position to the inside of CLOUD NINE, however, as the horse at this time had its momentum up, he elected to continue forward of that horse to lead rather than remain racing outside PO CHING TREASURE.

K Teetan was advised that, having regard to the sectionals of the race after the 1200 Metres, in the opinion of the Stewards, it would have been in CLOUD NINE's best interests to remain racing to the outside of PO CHING TREASURE rather than continue to go forward on that horse.

K Teetan was further advised to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner so that they can close off their race as best as they are able.

A veterinary inspection of BEST EFFORT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

BEST REWARD and GORGEOUS AGAIN were sent for sampling.