Recap by phillip woo

Happy And Healthy got up 80m out after executing well from an awkward gate travelling one off in midfield. He rarely runs a bad race over this Valley trip. Firming favourite Unique Happiest found one too good after poking his head in front at the 100m following a box-seat run. He's a winner waiting to happen at this level over the mile trip at either track. It was a good margin back to Dutch Windmill who just out-finished Speedy Wally for third following a rail run behind midfield. The former took advantage of a good gate but likely will struggle to win at this level. Speedy Wally came on well after slotting beyond midfield from a wide gate. He's already won twice this term but appears to have another win in him. Mutual Joy stayed on all right following a midfield run and will come on for this first-up run this term. Our Hero didn't quite get the mile distance following a prominent run. He's nothing special and will hope to strike a weak test over the 1,200m.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (142) - FLYING ELITE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

OUR HERO was bumped shortly after the start by EXCELLENCE which shifted in.

From wide barriers, UNIQUE JOYOUS, SPEEDY WALLY and NEVER BETTER were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover.

When being steadied to obtain cover approaching the winning post on the first occasion, SPEEDY WALLY got its head up and raced ungenerously and then passing the winning post on the first occasion got its head on the side and shifted in, resulting in UNIQUE JOYOUS being crowded for room outside CITY WINNER.

Passing the 1300 Metres, MUTUAL JOY commenced to race ungenerously and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of UNIQUE HAPPIEST which was being steadied to allow WORKS OF ART to cross.

In the early part of the Straight, SPEEDY WALLY lay in under pressure.

Near the 50 Metres, WORKS OF ART was awkwardly placed inside the heels of GENEROUS BOBO.

Passing the 50 Metres, NEVER BETTER raced in restricted room between OUR HERO which shifted out under pressure and SPEEDY WALLY which was laying in.

Z Purton stopped riding SPEEDY WALLY with the whip and directed that horse out to alleviate the tightening to NEVER BETTER, however, SPEEDY WALLY was ridden out hands and heels to the end of the race.

When questioned, Apprentice H N Wong stated that he was asked to attempt to lead on UNIQUE HAPPIEST, however, if the rider of another runner was intent on leading, he should not engage in a speed battle with that horse, rather he should obtain a trailing position behind it.

He said after riding his mount positively in the early stages to obtain the lead passing the winning post on the first occasion, both WORKS OF ART and, from a wider barrier, GENEROUS BOBO were being ridden along to obtain a forward position.

He said as he considered that WORKS OF ART, principally would continue on into the lead, he elected to steady UNIQUE HAPPIEST approaching the 1300 Metres to allow WORKS OF ART to cross.

He said although the tempo of the race at this time was not strong, he believed that WORKS OF ART would continue on irrespective and he felt at the time that it was in the best interests of UNIQUE HAPPIEST not to continue to persist in the position inside WORKS OF ART.

He said however that, on reflection, he believed it might have been better for UNIQUE HAPPIEST to have maintained its position without having to be ridden along rather than allowing WORKS OF ART to cross at this stage of the race as this resulted in WORKS OF ART being able to steady the tempo in front sooner than might have otherwise been the case.

Trainer K W Lui confirmed the instructions given to Apprentice Wong.

He said as he believed that WORKS OF ART was going to continue into the lead regardless of the manner in which Apprentice Wong rode UNIQUE HAPPIEST, he was comfortable with Apprentice Wong's decision to hand up the lead at this time of the race.

Apprentice Wong was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, the Stewards advised him that they concurred with his view subsequent that he should have allowed UNIQUE HAPPIEST to continue to race inside WORKS OF ART for longer than he did without riding the horse along given the tempo of the race to more accurately gauge whether WORKS OF ART would cross into the lead or remain racing to the outside of UNIQUE HAPPIEST.

A veterinary inspection of CITY WINNER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

HAPPY AND HEALTHY and UNIQUE HAPPIEST were sent for sampling.