Recap by phillip woo

Leader Contribution was running on empty after cornering near four lengths on top but had enough left in the tank to hang on for a second course-and-distance win this term. Jolly Gains was closing the gap rapidly with every stride after travelling third from the rear to grab second. He's turned the corner and must be kept safe when next reappearing over this trip or further. Kiram finished well after biding his time fourth from the rear on the fence from a wide gate. He's a winner waiting to happen at this level. Favourite Great Joy was getting to the line well to finish just out of the placings after getting no clear run until the 200m following a midfield run on the fence. House Of Luck gradually faded after crossing from a tricky gate to sit box-seat in the run. It wasn't a bad effort at only his second outing this term and he's usually more effective at Sha Tin. Red Horse found nothing following a prominent run. Like the latter, he's a Sha Tin horse.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (559) - MOUNT BUTLER HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

NEVER BETTER and HONEST HORSE bumped at the start.

ROYAL CHOCOLATE shifted in abruptly on jumping and made heavy contact with HOUSE OF LUCK which became unbalanced.

RED HORSE shifted out and bumped JOLLY GAINS shortly after the start.

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

Near the 1600 Metres, JOLLY GAINS shifted in and bumped RED HORSE when being steadied to obtain a position with cover.

After this, JOLLY GAINS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of RED HORSE for a short distance.

After the 500 Metres and again near the 400 Metres, KIRAM was awkwardly placed behind GREAT JOY.

Near the 150 Metres, GREAT JOY and HONEST HORSE bumped.

When questioned, A Sanna stated that as ROYAL CHOCOLATE had not performed to expectation last start, he was asked to ride the horse in about a midfield position with cover which was slightly further back in the field than had been the case at its last two starts.

He said it was felt that if ROYAL CHOCOLATE were to be ridden along to obtain a forward position from barrier 9, the horse then may not be able to finish off the race strongly and it was felt that there was sufficient pace in the race that ROYAL CHOCOLATE would be able to race well from about a midfield position.

He said passing the winning post on the first occasion he had hoped to obtain a position between HONEST HORSE and JOLLY GAINS, however, HONEST HORSE was able to maintain its position behind that horse and this resulted in ROYAL CHOCOLATE being left in a three wide position.

He said he then steadied ROYAL CHOCOLATE to obtain a trailing position behind JOLLY GAINS after the 1200 Metres and this resulted in ROYAL CHOCOLATE racing further back in the field than had been intended.

He added that despite being ridden quietly tonight, ROYAL CHOCOLATE would not relax and because of this did not finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of ROYAL CHOCOLATE immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front and right hind legs.

Before being allowed to race again, ROYAL CHOCOLATE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

W M Lai (GRAND HARBOUR) explained that he was asked to lead if possible.

He said accordingly he rode his mount aggressively for a considerable distance in the early stages, however, GRAND HARBOUR did not show sufficient early speed to be able to immediately cross runners to its inside, namely HOUSE OF LUCK and RED HORSE.

He said he had to continually ride his mount along until after the 1200 Metres at which time HOUSE OF LUCK was able to shift in to race on the rail behind the leader CONTRIBUTION and he was able to obtain a position outside that horse.

He said the tempo in the early and middle stages was quite quick and because the race was being run at a fast tempo and also having regard to the amount of use he made of GRAND HARBOUR in the early stages, he was not able to improve his position to race directly to the outside of CONTRIBUTION.

He added GRAND HARBOUR came under heavy pressure after the 500 Metres and then weakened in the Home Straight.

When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon (GREAT JOY) stated that passing the 500 Metres he was travelling behind NEVER BETTER which was travelling immediately behind HOUSE OF LUCK.

He said he noticed that at this time HOUSE OF LUCK was under heavy pressure and therefore passing the 500 Metres he shifted to the outside of NEVER BETTER and improved around that horse and LITTLE ISLAND to be following RED HORSE.

He said RED HORSE came under pressure prior to the 400 Metres which resulted in GREAT JOY, which at this time was racing to the outside of NEVER BETTER, being awkwardly placed behind RED HORSE.

He said as both NEVER BETTER and RED HORSE were under heavy pressure at this time, he commenced to shift GREAT JOY to the outside of those horses in the early part of the Straight, however, due to RED HORSE not improving into the race, GREAT JOY was badly held up for clear running until near the 250 Metres at which time he was able to shift to the outside of both RED HORSE and LITTLE ISLAND into clear running.

After the race, U Rispoli reported that HONEST HORSE did not feel comfortable in its action.

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

Before being allowed to race again, HONEST HORSE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of LITTLE ISLAND and RED HORSE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

GREAT JOY, CONTRIBUTION and JOLLY GAINS were sent for sampling.