Recap by phillip woo

Jockey Derek Leung Ka-chun didn't hit the panic button on Ho Ho Feel despite the lead changing several times during the run and they were able to come from last to just overhaul Lotus Strikes Back for the win. He had given a good sight in three earlier starts and his ability to handle both tracks should give him options going forward. Early favourite Lotus Strikes Back found one just too good after sweeping to the front 100m out following a patient ride second from the rear. He'll get away with a race soon. King Of Mongolia did have to work a bit to land a prominent spot with cover from a tricky gate and kept on gamely after pulling out 250m out to lead 100m later for a placing. Sharp Sailor was on his tippy toes 100m out after circling the field to lead 900m out. He found a few too good on this occasion. Heroic Guru ran on without menacing after settling worse than midfield as the post-time favourite.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (104) - EMPLOYEES' SERVICE HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1800Meters

Shortly after the start, RULE THEE got its head on the side and shifted in, resulting in SHARP SAILOR being crowded for room and taken in onto LOTUS STRIKES BACK which became unbalanced.

HO HO FEEL and HEROIC GURU were steadied in the early stages to obtain a position closer to the rail.

Despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, JOLLY GENE failed to muster early speed.

C Y Ho reported after the race that it had been intended for JOLLY GENE to lead, however, the horse showed insufficient pace to do so.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, RULE THEE got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BANK ON RED.

In the early stages, KING OF MONGOLIA raced wide and without cover and then after the 1300 Metres was allowed to stride forward to obtain a position closer to the rail.

Making the turn after passing the 600 Metres, RULE THEE shifted in towards the running rail of its own accord and became badly unbalanced.

After the 200 Metres, JOLLY GENE was directed to the inside of TAI SMART when held up for clear running.

JOLLY GENE was then unable to obtain clear running for the remainder of the race and consequently was not able to be tested.

N Callan (KING OF MONGOLIA) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 250 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of JOLLY GENE, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

N Callan was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 29 October 2017 and to expire on Thursday, 2 November 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

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

When questioned, N Rawiller (SHARP SAILOR) stated that after proceeding down to the barriers satisfactorily, SHARP SAILOR became stirred up behind the barriers and was somewhat reluctant to load into the barriers.

He said after riding his mount along in the early stages to take up a good position from an inside barrier, SHARP SAILOR appeared to become momentarily unbalanced in its action after the 1600 Metres and got its head up which prompted him to look down at the horse on a number of occasions to ensure that it had not gone amiss.

He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion the horse's action improved and he was therefore content to continue on.

He said the pace passing the winning post on the first occasion was particularly slow and after the winning post on the first occasion he looked to his outside to establish whether he could take HEROIC GURU out in order to make a forward move given that SHARP SAILOR would not be suited by having to be ridden back in the field if the race continued to be slowly run.

He said it was not until after the 1300 Metres that he was able to shift away from the rail and approaching the 1200 Metres he commenced to ride his mount along vigorously to improve its position around runners into a forward position.

He said as he committed to the outside of JOLLY GENE to go forward, TAI SMART and KING OF MONGOLIA, which were racing near the lead, also pressed forward which increased the tempo of the race, however, at this time he already committed to going forward.

He added whilst SHARP SAILOR was able to obtain a position outside the lead after the 900 Metres and then eventually obtain the outright lead passing the 800 Metres, he had to make more use of SHARP SAILOR than he hoped.

He said in the middle stages SHARP SAILOR travelled only fairly and after placing his mount under pressure in the early part of the Straight the horse finished off the race one-paced.

N Rawiller stated that he did feel as though SHARP SAILOR had 4th placing secured given that there was a significant margin back from the 3rd horse, however, HEROIC GURU commenced to make ground on SHARP SAILOR over the concluding stages and after initially easing down on SHARP SAILOR, he then recommenced riding his mount to the line.

N Rawiller was advised that had SHARP SAILOR not have retained 4th placing, then he would have faced a charge of not riding his mount out to the end of the race, however, as SHARP SAILOR had retained 4th placing and given the significant margin behind the 3rd horse KING OF MONGOLIA, the Stewards did not take any further action other than to issue him with a severe reprimand and remind him of his obligation to ride his mounts out all the way to the end of the race.

A veterinary inspection of SHARP SAILOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of HEROIC GURU immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the Veterinary Officer reported that a full endoscopic examination of HEROIC GURU was not able to be performed due to that horse being fractious.

HEROIC GURU, HO HO FEEL and LOTUS STRIKES BACK were sent for sampling.