Recap by phillip woo

Witness Hunter responded well to get up 150m out for the win following a well-executed ride by Zac Purton travelling with cover worse than midfield from a wide gate. He's got room to head higher. Super Fun grudgingly gave way after working to the lead 1,100m out to just hold second. He's turned the corner with two positive runs this term. Empire Star was held up behind the tiring Shanghai Dragon travelling midfield and only got clear 150m out. He should have filled the Quinella spot. Best Gift came on well down the outside from the rear of the field to fill a First-4 spot. He's put together positive runs back-toback following a move to a hood and should want further than the 1,400m. Red Horse was stopping 50m out after a no-cover run near the speed. He had excuses. Vital Spring was held up early straight and only plodded over the last 150m following a one-out, oneback run. sShanghai Dragon disappointed following a dream run. He's not genuine.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (77) - FLAME TREE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

BEST GIFT lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and lost ground.

Then from wide barriers, BEST GIFT and MAJESTIC ENDEAVOUR were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

AFTER ME and VITAL SPRING bumped at the start.

When questioned regarding his riding of RED HORSE in the early stages and how it was that his mount was obliged to race wide and without cover, Apprentice C Wong stated that his instructions were to take up a prominent position, hopefully in the first four.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount urgently for the first 100 Metres where he noted that SUPER FUN, which was marginally behind and inside his horse, was also being hard ridden to assume the lead and he noticed that other runners nearer to the rail had taken up a forward position.

He said passing the 1200 Metres when GOLDEN EFFORT was being ridden positively to his outside to contest the lead, he elected to steady RED HORSE in an attempt to obtain cover rather than continue to ride his mount along to remain racing outside of SUPER FUN.

He said however that after being crossed by GOLDEN EFFORT, he was left in a three wide position without cover for the remainder of the race from the 1000 Metres.

Apprentice Wong was severely reprimanded for what the Stewards considered to be a lack of judgement on his behalf in that as his instructions did not preclude him from racing outside the ultimate leader SUPER FUN and that with the pace in the early stages not being fast, he had the clear option of riding his mount with more purpose approaching and passing the 1200 Metres to follow SUPER FUN across and sit outside that horse when it assumed the lead on the rail.

He was told that whilst the Stewards appreciated that he is relatively inexperienced, on this occasion his riding fell well short of the standard expected of a rider in Hong Kong.

A veterinary inspection of SHANGHAI DRAGON immediately following the race found that there was blood present at its left nostril.

A subsequent endoscopic examination of SHANGHAI DRAGON confirmed the horse to be a bleeder.

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

SHANGHAI DRAGON, WITNESS HUNTER and SUPER FUN were sent for sampling.