Recap by phillip woo

Sichuan Boss held off late-fancied favourite Chaparral Star for the win after a well-rated run in front. The key to victory was a return to the Valley with Victor Wong's important 10- pound claim in play. He will find things harder in Class Three. Chaparral Star closed nicely three from the right after a one-off run in midfield to finish a clear-cut second. This run confirms he belongs in this grade after a last-start win. True Grit stayed on well following a box-seat run. He's naturally coming to hand and likely wants further than a mile distance. Horse Prosperous finished well with one wider out following a patient ride third from the rear. Waldorf made ground near the inside without menacing travelling beyond midfield on the fence. He's starting to show signs of life but may require a longer trip. Early favourite Captain Boss made his move at the 750m but over-raced and was unable to get into a rhythm settling one-out, one-back from a tricky gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (103) - DANDELION HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

WALDORF began only fairly and made contact with TRUE GRIT which shifted out at the start.

Then despite being hard ridden, WALDORF failed to muster speed and settled back at the field.

From a wide barrier, THE SYLPH was steadied and shifted across behind runners soon after the start.

Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, when being straightened, SICHUAN BOSS made contact with MONEY MARSHAL which became unbalanced and shifted out and made heavy contact with CAPTAIN BOSS which also became unbalanced.

Approaching the 1300 Metres, GOLDEN KID was steadied away from the heels of CAPTAIN BOSS which was also being steadied to obtain cover behind MONEY MARSHAL.

In this incident, GOLDEN KID shifted in and made contact with CHAPARRAL STAR which was inconvenienced.

Leaving the 1100 Metres, CAPTAIN BOSS commenced to prove difficult to settle and when being restrained away from the heels of MONEY MARSHAL shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of TRUE GRIT which became badly unbalanced.

Passing the 900 Metres, MONEY MARSHAL hung in and made contact with the hindquarters of SICHUAN BOSS.

MONEY MARSHAL continued to lay in approaching and rounding the Home Turn and soon after straightening got its head on the side, hung in and inconvenienced WALDORF.

Approaching the finishing line, GOLDEN KID shifted in under pressure and bumped LETSGOFREE, causing both horses to become unbalanced.

C Y Ho reported that after the race upon pulling up he immediately dismounted from HORSE PROSPEROUS as it was apparent to him the horse was short in its action.

A veterinary inspection of HORSE PROSPEROUS immediately following the race found the horse to be lame in its right front leg.

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

When questioned, K C Leung stated that at its last start over the course and distance at Happy Valley on 10 October 2018, he was instructed to ride LETSGOFREE in a handy to midfield position, however, the circumstances of the race resulted in the horse taking up a more prominent early position.

He said he was again instructed to have the horse near midfield tonight and travelling where it was comfortable.

He said however that after travelling a short distance runners to his inside were ridden positively and were he to pursue a midfield position, he felt he would have been left racing wide and possibly without cover.

He added as a consequence he steadied LETSGOFREE to race nearer to the rail albeit in a position further back in the field than had been intended.

He said when tested in the Straight LETSGOFREE made up some ground but was rather one-paced and gave him the impression that the horse may not have backed up from its previous run.

When questioned, Z Purton stated that CAPTAIN BOSS pulled extremely hard and refused to settle throughout the early and middle stages.

He said as he assessed the tempo being only moderate, he shifted CAPTAIN BOSS to the outside of MONEY MARSHAL after the 900 Metres and pressed forward as he felt that by remaining racing behind MONEY MARSHAL, CAPTAIN BOSS would only continue to pull hard and race ungenerously.

He said after crossing MONEY MARSHAL near the 600 Metres and racing at the hindquarters of the leader SICHUAN BOSS, CAPTAIN BOSS travelled only fairly and when tested in the Straight weakened noticeably.

Z Purton added that, in his opinion, the disappointing performance of CAPTAIN BOSS could be attributed to the horse's refusal to settle in the early stages of the race.

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

SICHUAN BOSS and CHAPARRAL STAR were sent for sampling.