Recap by phillip woo

Inventor was given a clever ride by Matthew Poon Ming-fai when taking off from near the back to lead 650m out and kept on gamely to notch a fifth win from 24 starts. He relished the claimer's allowance with a return to Class Three but failed to make it in a higher grade last term. Divine Boy came from last at the top of the straight to grab second 100m out. He's attractively-rated off his current mark and will be winning shortly over this course. Magnetism ran on late to grab third after settling behind midfield. He's honest but does have many points in hand. Favourite Litterateur kept grinding away without ever looking a threat following a midfield run. He might be ready to tackle a longer trip now. Razor Quest closed late to finish a distant fourth. He'll come on for this run but is a few lengths better at Sha Tin. Plunged late, Call Me Awesome only plodded in the straight drive after chasing the speed one off the fence from a wide gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (34) - SAN ANTONIO HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Meters

UNICRON JEWELLERY was withdrawn on 12.9.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind).

Before being allowed to race again, UNICRON JEWELLERY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

LITTERATEUR and RAZOR QUEST bumped at the start.

RAZOR QUEST was then bumped by TEN FLAMES which shifted in.

JADE FORTUNE was crowded for room on jumping between ART OF RAW and MAGNETISM, both of which shifted ground.

From a wide barrier, DIVINE BOY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

When the tempo of the race slowed passing the 1100 Metres, TEN FLAMES commenced to prove difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of MAGNETISM.

Passing the 1000 Metres, JADE FORTUNE got its head up when being checked away from the heels of ART OF RAW.

In the early and middle stages, INVENTOR was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1000 Metres was allowed to improve its position to assume the lead near the 600 Metres.

MAGNETISM was checked away from the heels of LITTERATEUR passing the 1000 Metres.

After the 900 Metres, MAGNETISM was again awkwardly placed close to the heels of LITTERATEUR.

Making the turn near the 550 Metres, JADE FORTUNE was severely checked when crowded for room inside GOLDEN SLEEP (D Whyte) which got its head on the side and shifted in away from LITTERATEUR which lay in when awkwardly placed behind CALL ME AWESOME and TEN FLAMES which improved around LITTERATEUR.

Despite the check suffered by JADE FORTUNE being one of some significance, the Stewards were satisfied that the incident resulted from LITTERATEUR initially laying in and then GOLDEN SLEEP also laying in away from that horse, causing GOLDEN SLEEP to crowd the running of JADE FORTUNE.

JADE FORTUNE and GOLDEN SLEEP became badly unbalanced as a result of both horses making contact.

As the Stewards were also satisfied that there was no carelessness exhibited by any rider in this incident, no further action was taken, however, D Whyte was advised that, wherever possible, he should make every endeavour to assist other riders in similar circumstances.

When questioned, Z Purton stated that he was instructed to ride LITTERATEUR in about a midfield position from barrier

4.

He said it was anticipated that MAGNETISM, which was drawn immediately to the inside of LITTERATEUR, would take up a more forward position than LITTERATEUR and that LITTERATEUR would be able to follow that horse in about midfield.

He said he was asked not to restrain LITTERATEUR in the early stages to ensure that the horse did not commence to over-race as it had done previously.

He said LITTERATEUR began very well and without being ridden along was able to quickly establish a margin over MAGNETISM which, despite being ridden along from the start, did not show as much early speed as anticipated.

He said he therefore allowed LITTERATEUR to cross MAGNETISM without riding the horse along and LITTERATEUR, despite having to be ridden more slightly forward than intended, initially settled well.

He said however that after passing the winning post on the first occasion LITTERATEUR commenced to travel keenly and then after the 1400 Metres got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOLDEN SLEEP.

He said when the tempo of the race slowed, particularly after the 1200 Metres, LITTERATEUR again travelled keenly, however, he was able to remain racing behind GOLDEN SLEEP.

He said however when INVENTOR improved around LITTERATEUR after the 1000 Metres, LITTERATEUR commenced to prove very difficult to settle and had to be checked away from the heels of GOLDEN SLEEP approaching the 900 Metres.

He said despite his efforts LITTERATEUR continued to prove very difficult to settle and he therefore shifted LITTERATEUR out from behind GOLDEN SLEEP after the 800 Metres to follow INVENTOR.

He added LITTERATEUR then came off the bridle and he was not able to improve sufficiently to prevent TEN FLAMES from crossing LITTERATEUR after the 600 Metres.

He said LITTERATEUR continued to travel off the bridle and had to be ridden aggressively in an endeavour to maintain its position.

He said after shifting to the outside of TEN FLAMES at the entrance to the Straight, LITTERATEUR then took some time to respond to his riding and subsequently finished off the race only one-paced.

When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he had been asked from the wide barrier to obtain a forward position on CALL ME AWESOME.

He said it was hoped that CALL ME AWESOME would be able to show sufficient early speed to be able to cross runners to his inside and possibly obtain the lead.

He said if this was the case he was asked to slow the tempo to ensure that CALL ME AWESOME was able to finish off the race strongly.

He said in accordance with his instructions he shifted CALL ME AWESOME across in order to race outside ART OF RAW passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He said at this time he had every intention of crossing ART OF RAW, however, that horse was allowed to maintain its position to the inside of CALL ME AWESOME and he felt that he may have had to ride CALL ME AWESOME along to clear ART OF RAW.

He said having in mind that he was asked to slow the tempo if he were able to obtain the lead, he elected to remain racing outside ART OF RAW approaching the 1200 Metres.

He added CALL ME AWESOME initially travelled keenly, however, when ART OF RAW was able to establish a slight margin on CALL ME AWESOME, CALL ME AWESOME then settled well outside that horse.

M Chadwick was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, given the relevant sectional times, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have made a more purposeful effort to lead the race without having to make too much use of CALL ME AWESOME.

M Chadwick was reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts as instructed where appropriate circumstances exist.

A veterinary inspection of CALL ME AWESOME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of JADE FORTUNE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

LITTERATEUR, INVENTOR and DIVINE BOY were sent for sampling.