Recap by phillip woo

In a return to form, the late-fancied Prince Harmony kept finding to just hold off Charity Glory after leading from a middle gate to notch a fourth win from seven runs over this Valley trip. Charity Glory finished off nicely following a handy run to continue his solid sprint form at the Valley. Joyful Moments came on well travelling one off in midfield to make it close on the wire. He isn't just a dirt horse and can pop up soon. Double Valentine grudgingly gave way after stalking the leader. He's turned the corner in recent runs but likely needs a drop in class to open his win account. Jumbo Happiness didn't have to alter course close to home when making a steady bid travelling worse than midfield. Gameplayer Emperor got going late without menacing after travelling second from the rear at only his second start. He's heading in the right direction. Favourite Alcari was already a beaten runner when checking off heels 50m out following a box-seat run.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (534) - HAWTHORN HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

S Clipperton was fined the sum of $7,000 for weighing in 2 lbs overweight on ALL GREAT FRIENDS.

After being loaded into the barriers, SIR REDALOT became fractious and got out under the front gates riderless.

SIR REDALOT then completed a circuit of the course before being recaptured.

During this time the remainder of the field was unloaded which resulted in a considerable delay to the start of the race.

Acting on veterinary advice that SIR REDALOT was not suitable to race, that horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards.

Before being allowed to race again, SIR REDALOT will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

JUMBO HAPPINESS and JOYFUL MOMENTS bumped at the start.

From wide barriers, HIGH FIVE, SAUL'S SPECIAL and GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR were all steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

When being steadied to obtain cover, JUMBO HAPPINESS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHARITY GLORY shortly after the start.

Passing the 1100 Metres, HIGH FIVE, which was being steadied to obtain cover, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR which was awkwardly placed outside DOUBLE VALENTINE.

Passing the 600 Metres, AMAZING shifted in and brushed the running rail.

In the early part of the Straight, GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR lay in under pressure.

Apprentice H N Wong (PRINCE HARMONY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of JUMBO HAPPINESS, resulting in that horse being hampered and having to shift in away from the heels of PRINCE HARMONY and in doing so becoming unbalanced and shifting in onto ALCARI which was checked when crowded onto AMAZING which was also badly hampered.

Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 21 April 2018 and to expire on Thursday, 26 April 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

After the 100 Metres, CHARITY GLORY got its head on the side and lay in and passing the 50 Metres was bumped by JOYFUL MOMENTS which shifted in, resulting in both CHARITY GLORY and JOYFUL MOMENTS becoming unbalanced.

Close to the finishing line, GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR was awkwardly placed behind DOUBLE VALENTINE which was awkwardly placed outside the heels of PRINCE HARMONY.

Throughout the race, ALL GREAT FRIENDS travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, J Moreira stated that at its most recent start he was asked to ride ALCARI with cover if possible.

He said on that occasion it was anticipated that CHEERFULJET might lead the race and therefore it had been hoped that he would be able to obtain a trailing position behind that horse.

He said on that occasion making the first turn near the 1000 Metres ALCARI was inclined to shift ground and therefore when CHEERFULJET did not make a concerted effort to lead the race, he allowed ALCARI to remain racing inside CHEERFULJET in the lead.

He said when ridden in the lead ALCARI got its head on the side and lay out after the 400 Metres which allowed the opportunity for a number of horse to improve their positions to the inside of ALCARI.

He added after that race Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of ALCARI, felt that ALCARI had raced greenly in the lead and therefore he was asked tonight to ensure that he obtained a trailing position on the horse.

He said as PRINCE HARMONY which had previously shown good early speed in a number of its races was engaged in tonight's race, Mr Yiu felt that there was a good opportunity for ALCARI to follow that horse which may provide ALCARI with the opportunity to finish off the race better than it did at its last start.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode ALCARI positively in the early stages and then allowed PRINCE HARMONY to cross ALCARI after the 1000 Metres.

He said ALCARI travelled well behind PRINCE HARMONY until passing the 600 Metres at which time the horse again was inclined to race greenly and want to shift ground.

He added, unlike at its las start when the horse made the Home Turn awkwardly, ALCARI was able to shift directly to the inside of PRINCE HARMONY at the entrance to the Straight, however, the horse did not respond to his riding when placed under pressure and was disappointing.

He said although ALCARI suffered interference passing the 100 Metres, that horse was beaten at this time and whilst the horse may have finished somewhat closer than it eventually did, the horse would not have finished in the placings.

Mr Yiu confirmed that it had been intended for ALCARI to be ridden with over at its most recent start when the horse finished second.

He said whilst ALCARI was able to finish second on that occasion, he was disappointed with the manner in which the horse had closed off the race over the concluding stages and felt that ALCARI may have finished off stronger if it had been given the opportunity to race with cover.

He said he was also concerned with the manner in which ALCARI lay out making the Home Turn in that race and he felt that were ALCARI to obtain cover tonight, the horse may finish off the race better than it did last start.

He said he therefore asked Jockey Moreira to ensure that, if possible, ALCARI was able to obtain a trailing position tonight.

He said following ALCARI's disappointing performance, it was his intention, if the programme allows, to return the horse to Sha Tin over the straight 1000 Metres as it had previously performed well at that course and distance.

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

ALCARI, PRINCE HARMONY and CHARITY GLORY were sent for sampling.