Recap by phillip woo

Band Of Brothers swooped to grab victory 50m out after a patient ride three deep with cover fourth from the rear from an outside alley to build on a pleasing debut at the Valley. Win Win held on for second after surging to the front 150m out following a one-off run settling behind midfield. He keeps promising with seconds in three of five starts and will be winning shortly. Dor Dor finished well after angling into the open 300m out following a patient ride second from the rear on the fence to edge Little General for third. He's building to a win and was suited by a rise in trip here. Little General finished well after working his way into the clear at the 300m travelling underneath Win Win in the run. Diamond Legend ran on reasonably well one from the outside to just finish out of the frame following a deep run with cover beyond midfield. It was another honest effort. Favourite Monica was badly held up for most the straight following a prominent run.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (524) - JORDAN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

GOLDEN MISSION was withdrawn on 23.3.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LITTLE GENERAL (G van Niekerk).

Before being allowed to race again, GOLDEN MISSION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

CAPTAIN BOSS shifted out at the start and bumped LITTLE GENERAL.

SUPER HIPPOGRIFF was slow to begin and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages and consequently finished tailed out.

A veterinary inspection of SUPER HIPPOGRIFF immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer??which had previously been reported.

The performance of SUPER HIPPOGRIFF, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

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

Also from wide barriers, BLAZING PARTNERS and BAND OF BROTHERS were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Near the 950 Metres, DOR DOR got its head up when awkwardly placed behind LITTLE GENERAL.

After the 900 Metres, IRON BRAVO was left racing wide and without cover.

Near the 850 Metres, LITTLE GENERAL momentarily raced tight inside WIN WIN which got its head on the side and lay in momentarily.

Passing the 400 Metres, GALLANT SPIRIT was shifted to the outside of MONICA which, after having difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight, was shifted to the inside of CAPTAIN BOSS in an attempt to obtain clear running inside that horse.

After racing tight for a considerable distance approaching the 300 Metres, MONICA was then directed to the outside of CAPTAIN BOSS near the 250 Metres after being disappointed for running inside that horse.

After the race, S de Sousa (MONICA) stated that his mount had been travelling well at this point, however, after being disappointed for running MONICA did not run on over the concluding stages.

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

Also passing the 400 Metres, RED HORSE and VITAL SPRING bumped.

M F Poon (DIAMOND LEGEND) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in under pressure when not clear of BLAZING PARTNERS, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

M F Poon was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 14 April 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 18 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In addition, M F Poon was fined $40,000.

Close to the finishing line, DIAMOND LEGEND was awkwardly placed behind BAND OF BROTHERS and consequently was not ridden out all the way to the end of the race.

G van Niekerk, the rider of 4th placegetter, LITTLE GENERAL, pleaded guilty to a charge of having failed to ride his mount out all the way to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards [Rule 100(2)].

G van Niekerk was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 31 March 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 11 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (4 Hong Kong racedays).

When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he was asked to ride INTREPIC positively and obtain a position with cover behind the leaders if possible.

He said he was told that if the race was run at a faster tempo than had been anticipated, he should ride INTREPID in about midfield.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode INTREPIC positively in the early stages to clear MONICA to his inside.

He said when MONICA, GALLANT SPIRIT and CAPTAIN BOSS all maintained their positions to the inside of INTREPIC, he was required to ride his mount along to clear MONICA as he did not believe that, having regard to the positive manner in which he had ridden the horse in the early stages, it was then available for him to steady INTREPIC.

He said this resulted in him having to make more use of INTREPIC in the early stages and being required to race outside the lead after the 1000 Metres.

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

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

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that BLAZING PARTNERS had bled from both nostrils.

MONICA, BAND OF BROTHERS and WIN WIN were sent for sampling.