Recap by phillip woo

Golden Four got up 80m out for a first win after being snagged back and ridden for luck from a wide gate. He had been knocking on the door for sometime and the win was well deserved. Royal Racer ran on well after over-racing one-off behind midfield to nearly cause a boilover. It was an out-of-the-blue effort after failing to menace in three other starts. Alpha Hedge had to settle for third in the end after hitting the front 160m out following a one-off run in midfield. He can salute at any moment after placing in his past three starts. Ka Ying Brilliance stayed on reasonably well to fill a Quartet spot following a midfield run on the fence. It was a better effort following a gear change. The Createth was closing late after settling deep near the back from a tricky gate. Intrepic had his chance following a prominent run. He's limited. Favourite Hurricane Hunter was badly held up until the 200m saving ground behind midfield. He should have finished closer.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (317) - THE LOK SIN TONG CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 4 - 1400Meters

KA YING BRILLIANCE began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of HURRICANE HUNTER which in turn shifted in and crowded the room of FLASH FAMOUS.

THE CREATETH began very awkwardly, shifted in and bumped CASHIN MINISTER.

Then after this, despite being ridden along for some distance, THE CREATETH failed to muster speed.

Shortly after the start, A Sanna (SOCCER MASTER) adjusted his left foot in the iron.

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

From a wide barrier, MEGATRON was ridden along in the early stages, however, after failing to muster speed was steadied and shifted across behind runners after the 1200 Metres to obtain cover.

Near the 1100 Metres, N Callan (INTREPIC) adjusted his left foot in the iron.

Making the first turn near the 900 Metres, INTRERIC got its head on the side, lay out and bumped TOUCH OF LUCK.

Passing the 600 Metres, CASHIN MINISTER commenced to travel keenly was steadied away from the heels of ROYAL RACER.

After this, CASHIN MINISTER was shifted to the outside of ROYAL RACER near the 500 Metres and when shifted out to a position behind SOCCER MASTER clipped the heels of that horse and blundered badly near the 450 Metres as SOCCER MASTER gave ground abruptly.

In this incident, CASHIN MINISTER shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of MEGATRON which became badly unbalanced and was taken wider.

THE CREATETH, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence.

After this, SOCCER MASTER continued to give ground abruptly and finished tailed off.

The performance of SOCCER MASTER was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, SOCCER MASTER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Approaching the 400 Metres, HURRICANE HUNTER was shifted in away from the heels of TOUCH OF LUCK.

HURRICANE HUNTER was then shifted in further away from the heels of INTREPIC approaching the 350 Metres when badly held up for clear running.

HURRICANE HUNTER was checked away from the heels of LEISURED FEET approaching the 300 Metres as that horse commenced to give ground and was consequently shifted to the outside of LEISURED FEET to obtain clear running at the 300 Metres.

Passing the 350 Metres, KA YING BRILLIANCE raced tight inside the hindquarters of LEISURED FEET.

FLASH FAMOUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KA YING BRILLIANCE passing the 300 Metres.

FLASH FAMOUS had difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 200 Metres and then over the final 50 Metres was held up for clear running and consequently was not able to be ridden out to the end of the race.

Close to the finishing line, THE CREATETH shifted in and bumped HURRICANE HUNTER and consequently was not ridden out all the way to the end of the race.

Throughout the race, SOCCER MASTER travelled wide and without cover.

The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that incidents occurred near the 150 Metres and again close to the finishing line which cast doubt as to whether GOLDEN FOUR should be declared the winner.

It was established that near the 150 Metres GOLDEN FOUR and ROYAL RACER (G van Niekerk) bumped as a result of both horses shifting ground.

It was further found that close to the finishing line GOLDEN FOUR shifted out to relieve the tightening to ALPHA HEDGE on its inside and in doing so bumped ROYAL RACER, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.

In respect of the incident near the 150 Metres, the Stewards were satisfied that the contact occurred as a result of both horses shifting ground and therefore that matter was not pursued.

The Stewards found that whilst GOLDEN FOUR did shift out close to the finishing line, at this time the horse had already established a margin over ROYAL RACER and given the head margin between the horses and the proximity of the contact to the winning post, this matter was also not pursued.

Whilst it did not have any bearing on the Stewards' decision, G van Niekerk did not lodge a formal protest/objection on behalf of the second placegetter ROYAL RACER.

Accordingly, weighed in was notified on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

When questioned regarding his riding of LEISURED FEET, H N Wong stated that from a wide barrier he was asked to obtain a forward position on LEISURED FEET.

He said after having to ride his mount along to cross MEGATRON on its inside, he did not have to make use of LEISURED FEET to then cross the remainder of the field and was able to shift in beside the leader SUPREME WITNESS near the 1100 Metres without having to ride his mount along to do so.

He said after shifting in to race outside SUPREME WITNESS, LEISURED FEET commenced to travel keenly and he was not able to steady the horse such that it would be positioned slightly behind SUPREME WITNESS.

He said as he restrained LEISURED FEET on a number of occasions after the 1000 Metres, the horse got its head up and shifted ground and making the turn near the 900 Metres shifted in and bumped SUPREME WITNESS, causing both horses to become unbalanced.

He added LEISURED FEET then commenced to travel more keenly and it was not available to him then to steady the horse back off SUPREME WITNESS.

He said as LEISURED FEET was travelling keenly when racing on terms with SUPREME WITNESS, he allowed his mount to improve its position slightly in advance of that horse in the hope that LEISURED FEET would relax and travel more comfortably.

H N Wong was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, in similar circumstances he must ensure that he makes every endeavour to have his mounts travel such that they are able to finish off the race as best as they can in the circumstances.

When questioned regarding the performance of TOUCH OF LUCK, C Y Ho stated that it was intended for TOUCH OF LUCK to obtain a midfield position.

He said when wearing blinkers for the first time today TOUCH OF LUCK began well and he felt that he would have had to unnecessarily restrain his mount in an endeavour to obtain a position as instructed.

He said therefore he allowed his mount to improve its position in the early stages and after the 1100 Metres was able to obtain a trailing position behind LEISURED FEET.

He said TOUCH OF LUCK travelled very well with the blinkers on for the first time and relaxed throughout the middle stages.

He added however that after shifting TOUCH OF LUCK to the outside of runners after the 500 Metres, his mount immediately came under pressure and was then disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of TOUCH OF LUCK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

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

HURRICANE HUNTER, GOLDEN FOUR and ROYAL RACER were sent for sampling.