Recap by phillip woo

The Full Bloom came with a bold move late from behind midfield to snatch victory from Mr Darthvegar in the shadows of the post for an upset win. He was able to erase some miserable form in the past over this course. Mr Darthvegar did everything right after hitting the front 150m after peeling out entering the straight following a one-off run in midfield but get the win. Nitro Express finished nicely from near the back to make it close on the wire. He's a winner waiting to happen in this grade. Shining On was getting going late down the outside from the rear to cap a massive Quartet. He's has a pretty good season. Association Fans stayed on all right near the inside following a rail run worse than midfield. Curling Luxury wasn't beaten far in the end after being pestered in front through slick fractions by Good Runners Way. Naboo Star was eased down coming to the final bend after settling one-out, one-back going forward from a middle draw.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (588) - THE HONG KONG RUGBY UNION CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 4 - 1650Meters

ASSOCIATION FANS and THE FULL BLOOM bumped at the start.

MISTER MONTE shifted out at the start and inconvenienced NITRO EXPRESS which from the outside barrier was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Also from a wide barrier, SHINING ON was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover.

After travelling a short distance, YEE CHEONG PEGASUS and MR DARTHVEGAR were crowded for room between CURLING LUXURY which shifted out and POLYMER LUCK which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider.

Despite being aggressively ridden along for a considerable distance in the early stages, MISTER MONTE failed to muster speed and passing the winning post on the first occasion was steadied to obtain cover.

Passing the 1300 Metres, POLYMER LUCK was bumped by NABOO STAR which was racing tight inside GOOD RUNNERS WAY.

Passing the 1200 Metres, POLYMER LUCK and NABOO STAR raced tight inside GOOD RUNNERS WAY (H T Mo) which shifted in marginally.

NABOO STAR and POLYMER LUCK then bumped on a number of occasions approaching and passing the 1100 Metres before GOOD RUNNERS WAY again shifted in marginally after the 1100 Metres and became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by NABOO STAR.

NABOO STAR then shifted in and raced tight outside POLYMER LUCK.

POLYMER LUCK then got its head on the side and shifted in away from NABOO STAR, resulting in YEE CHEONG PEGASUS being crowded for room.

NABOO STAR and GOOD RUNNERS WAY then continued to race tight making the turn after the 1000 Metres.

H T Mo was reprimanded and advised to ensure that runners to his inside have comfortable racing room.

Then after the 900 Metres, after initially being directed in marginally by GOOD RUNNERS WAY, NABOO STAR (Z Purton) shifted in, resulting in POLYMER LUCK being taken in onto YEE CHEONG PEGASUS which resulted in that horse being crowded for room and losing ground near the 850 Metres.

Z Purton was reprimanded and advised that whilst NABOO STAR had become unbalanced on a number of occasions in the lead up to this incident, nonetheless in these circumstances he would have been expected to do more than he did on this occasion to prevent NABOO STAR from shifting in.

Z Purton (NABOO STAR) stated that after becoming badly unbalanced on a number of occasions in the middle stages, NABOO STAR did not travel well from the 900 Metres.

He said NABOO STAR was off the bridle even though the horse was able to obtain cover after the 900 Metres.

He said as far out as the 800 Metres he was concerned that NABOO STAR would not be able to finish off the race as the horse was racing on a loose rein at this time.

He said he slapped the horse down the shoulder making the turn after the 600 Metres and NABOO STAR immediately came off the bridle.

He said he rode NABOO STAR more vigorously near the 500 Metres, however, the horse immediately commenced to give ground and then by the Home Turn had weakened out of the race.

He added as NABOO STAR was well beaten, he did not persist in riding out the horse in the Straight.

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

The performance of NABOO STAR, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

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

Near the 900 Metres, MISTER MONTE was left racing wide and without cover.

When questioned, Mr C S Shum, the trainer of GOOD RUNNERS WAY, stated that he identified that there were a number of go-forward horses in tonight's race and therefore he felt that there was an opportunity for GOOD RUNNERS WAY to obtain a position behind the speed.

He said he therefore instructed H T Mo, the rider of GOOD RUNNERS WAY, to attempt to obtain a trailing position in the early stages, however, if GOOD RUNNERS WAY did not begin well, Jockey Mo was given an alternate set of instructions to shift the horse across behind runners and obtain cover.

He said bearing in mind GOOD RUNNERS WAY began well, he was satisfied with H T Mo's riding of the horse in the early stages, however, due to NABOO STAR maintaining its position inside GOOD RUNNERS WAY approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion, this resulted in the horse being left racing very wide.

He added, in his opinion, the circumstances of the race in the early stages resulted in GOOD RUNNERS WAY racing wide and without cover until near the 1000 Metres at which time the horse was able to shift in to race outside the lead.

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

The Stewards will interview Mr C H Yip, the trainer of THE FULL BLOOM, regarding the horse's improved performance.

Mr Yip was not present at tonight's racemeeting.

NABOO STAR, THE FULL BLOOM and MR DARTHVEGAR were sent for sampling.