Recap by phillip woo

Equal favourite Amritsaria dipped badly at the start but quickly recovered to find the lead and kept up a strong gallop to just hold off the late surge of Le Panache for a maiden win at his 18th start.Specked late Le Panache finished nicely after travelling fourth from the rear to finish a clear second in a vastly-improved run. He appreciated the rise in trip but will need to prove this was not a fluke. Sweet Bean closed late to grab a placing after settling third from the back. He's an honest performer at this level but seems to appreciate the shade faster pace in races. Telephatia made a steady bid from midfield to just miss in a ding-dong finish for third. He can pop up at times but isn't getting any younger. Rock The Tree came on late down the outside when the race was all but over. He needs a stronger tempo. Favourite Fun Manager was held up at the head of the straight after getting shuffled back to travel worse than midfield and came up flat over the last 200m.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (92) - HOI PA HANDICAP - Class 5 - 2000Meters

AMRITSARIA stumbled badly at the start and in doing so shifted out, resulting in LE PANACHE being taken out onto the hindquarters of FUN MANAGER which became unbalanced.

LOYAL CRAFTSMAN shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of SWEET BEAN.

After this, from a wide barrier, LOYAL CRAFTSMAN was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, ROCK THE TREE and SWEET BEAN raced tight.

Also passing the winning post on the first occasion, RHODE ASSASSIN got its head up when being steadied to allow AMRITSARIA to cross.

After this, RHODE ASSASSIN was momentarily steadied away from the heels of AMRITSARIA.

Passing the 1800 Metres, TELEPHATIA got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FUN MANAGER.

In the early stages, BEST JADE TRIUMPH was left racing wide and after the 1700 Metres was ridden along to improve its position closer to the rail.

Passing the 1600 Metres, RHODE ASSASSIN momentarily raced tight inside FUN MANAGER which, when travelling keenly, shifted in away from the heels of DRAGON BACHELOR.

LE PANACHE, which was following, was shifted out away from the heels of RHODE ASSASSIN in consequence.

For some distance after the 1600 Metres, TELEPHATIA raced keenly when being steadied to obtain a trailing position behind BEST JADE TRIUMPH.

Near the 1500 Metres, MY FOLKS was left racing wide and without cover.

When questioned, N Rawiller stated that CHOICE EXCHEQUER is well-known to him as he had ridden that horse on a number of occasions.

He said in the majority of those races the horse had raced in a forward position and he anticipated that this would be the case again today given that the horse had drawn the outside barrier.

He said he was instructed to attempt to lead the race, however, if the pace of the race was particularly quick in the early stages, it was acceptable for him to obtain a position with cover.

He added that the owner of CHOICE EXCHEQUER expressed to him that he had been disappointed with the recent form of the horse and therefore if there was an opportunity to obtain cover, he should take advantage of that situation.

Trainer C H Yip confirmed that it was his wish for the horse to be ridden in a forward position, but agreed that given CHOICE EXCHEQUER was out of form and that the horse was backing up so quickly after racing last Thursday night, if the opportunity presented itself to obtain cover, then Jockey Rawiller should ride the horse accordingly to see whether CHOICE EXCHEQUER might finish off the race better than it has been of late.

N Rawiller stated that CHOICE EXCHEQUER began only fairly today and he considered riding his mount along to overcome the horse's tardy start, however, when he saw a number of horses better drawn than CHOICE EXCHEQUER being ridden along in the early stages, he felt that there was an opportunity for CHOICE EXCHEQUER to shift in to race behind BEST JADE TRIUMPH passing the winning post on the first occasion, thereby providing CHOICE EXCHEQUER with cover.

He said after the 1500 Metres he was able to shift in closer to the rail behind MY FOLKS and CHOICE EXCHEQUER travelled very comfortably despite the race being run at a moderate tempo in the middle stages.

He added he was then able to improve his position behind MY FOLKS in the middle stages and rounding the Home Turn CHOICE EXCHEQUER quickened nicely to be in contention.

He said however that CHOICE EXCHEQUER came under pressure prior to the 200 Metres and again finished off the race disappointingly.

Mr Yip stated that although he would have preferred to have seen more use made of CHOICE EXCHEQUER in the early stages to obtain a forward position, nonetheless he was satisfied with Jockey Rawiller's riding of the horse today given that it was out of form and may have benefited by being ridden in a different manner After the race, M Chadwick (MY FOLKS) reported that his saddle shifted back in the Straight.

Also after the race, Z Purton was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of FUN MANAGER.

He said as FUN MANAGER had previously shown better form at Happy Valley, he believed that the horse may be better suited to racing at that track.

A veterinary inspection of FUN MANAGER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of DRAGON BACHELOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

FUN MANAGER, AMRITSARIA and LE PANACHE were sent for sampling.