Recap by phillip woo

Happilababy drew clear in track record time after rushing to the front 200m out following a lovely run on the back of the speed to land a betting plunge. The rise in trip suited him at his second run in this grade but will again find things tougher in Class Two. Early favourite Ensuring stuck on well following a prominent run for second. He's knocking on the door and a win is around the bend. Happy Contender finished well after travelling second from the rear to place. He continues to ring up big runs without winning. Kyrus Bowser ran on widest out to fill fourth after settling at the tail of the field. He keeps running on without menacing in his races and will require further relief in the handicaps. Jolly Gene and post-time favourite Gorgeous Again faded after travelling one-two in the run through slick fractions. They had excuses.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (137) - BILLION HANDICAP - Class 3 - 2200Meters

HAPPY CONTENDER and GORGEOUS AGAIN bumped at the start.

After this, HAPPY CONTENDER was shifted across behind runners.

From the outside barrier, KYRUS BOWSER was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Approaching the 250 Metres, HAPPY CONTENDER was disappointed for running between ENSURING and MIGHTY BOY which shifted in.

Over the concluding stages, MIGHTY BOY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ENSURING (N Callan) which shifted out under pressure.

N Callan was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he was instructed to lead on JOLLY GENE as is usual.

He said JOLLY GENE is one-paced and he was asked not to restrain the horse as it performs best when able to stride along and not have its stride broken.

He said he was able to obtain the lead in the early stages, having to make very little use of JOLLY GENE to do so and the horse seemed to relax nicely in the lead.

He said after passing the 1000 Metres JOLLY GENE commenced to travel more keenly and he attempted to steady the horse so that it would not invite other runners to challenge JOLLY GENE in the lead and also not to break the horse's stride.

He added, despite his efforts, JOLLY GENE continued to travel more keenly than he had hoped and consequently was then not able to finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of JOLLY GENE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

When questioned regarding the performance of the winner HAPPILABABY compared to that of its last number of starts, Trainer C S Shum stated that on all of those occasions the horse had pleased him in the lead up to the races, however, had not performed to his expectations.

He said in those races the horse had appeared reluctant to race and had wanted to hang in as it had done throughout the majority of its racing career in Hong Kong.

He said HAPPILABABY also hung in in most of its track work and proved difficult to ride and that of all the jockeys who had ridden the horse, Z Purton, who rode HAPPILABABY this evening, had the best record and even in the horse's track work, he had been able to get it relaxed and tractable.

He said, given that Jockey Purton had ridden HAPPILABABY at its only two previous wins in Hong Kong, wherever possible, he had attempted to engage the services of Jockey Purton, however, for various reasons, he had not been able to secure him to ride the horse.

He added that with Jockey Purton riding HAPPILABABY tonight and being up in distance, he anticipated that HAPPILABABY, given the manner in which it worked in the lead up to the race including in a barrier trial when ridden by Jockey Purton, would race well and he advised the connections accordingly.

Mr Shum was advised that whilst the Stewards acknowledged the good record of Z Purton on HAPPILABABY, nonetheless it is important for horses to race in a consistent manner.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of GORGEOUS AGAIN, N Rawiller stated that he had ridden the horse in the lead up to tonight's race on both the All Weather surface and turf and the horse's work, particularly on the All Weather surface, had been good.

He said tonight's race was run at an even tempo throughout, rather than in a stop-start manner which he felt would suit GORGEOUS AGAIN.

He said however that his mount came under pressure as far out as the 700 Metres and then, after being hard ridden from the 500 Metres, did not quicken as he expected and stayed on one-paced for a short distance before giving ground noticeably.

He added the manner in which the horse worked on the All Weather Track compared to tonight's performance indicated to him that whilst GORGEOUS AGAIN had previously raced well on a track rated "Good to Firm?? the horse may not have appreciated tonight's surface which, in his opinion, was firmer than it had been this season.

Trainer C S Shum stated that whilst GORGEOUS AGAIN had disappointed him in tonight's race, he felt that being ridden in a more forward position, up in distance tonight and without cover in what eventuated to be a solidly run race may not have suited the horse.

He said accordingly, it is his intention to return the horse to Sha Tin if a suitable race is able to be found as GORGEOUS AGAIN had previously raced well at that course and, if possible, to have it ridden more quietly.

A veterinary inspection of GORGEOUS AGAIN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

The performance of GORGEOUS AGAIN, a favourite for tonight's race, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, GORGEOUS AGAIN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

GORGEOUS AGAIN, HAPPILABABY and ENSURING were sent for sampling.