Recap by phillip woo

Intrepic won comfortably after working forward to lead from a wide gate. He didn't run all that badly in a few earlier runs and was well rated at the bottom of the weights on a past win. Care Free Prince kept on gamely for second chasing the winner on the fence. He continues to race well this season. Wonder Express stayed on well following a prominent run to fill a placing. He's still learning but was suited by a rise in trip from a better gate. Gallant Legacy stayed on fourth best following a midfield run but wiped out the favourite Sonic Fighter when shifting in under pressure at the 200m. Thou Shall Sing kept on all right tracking the leader one off the fence. He's still trying to find his mark. Soccer Master wasn't too far from filling the frame after being held up early straight travelling worse than midfield. Sonic Fighter was badly hampered near the 150m when the whips were seriously cracking following a patient ride fourth from the back.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (650) - FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

FORTUNATE RUNNER was withdrawn on 10.5.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore right front tendon) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SOCCER MASTER (C Y Ho).

Before being allowed to race again, FORTUNATE RUNNER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

TIGERLAD began awkwardly and lost ground.

SOCCER MASTER lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently was slow to begin and then was steadied away from the heels of THOU SHALL SING which shifted out.

When being steadied from a wide barrier to obtain cover, FAIRY FLOSS shifted out and hampered DRAGON LEGEND.

After this, DRAGON LEGEND was also steadied and shifted across behind runners.

In the early stages, TIGERLAD raced greenly and shifted ground on a number of occasions.

After the 1000 Metres, LASTING FRIENDSHIP was left racing wide and without cover.

Passing the 300 Metres, SOCCER MASTER was awkwardly placed behind THOU SHALL SING and inside VOYAGE KING.

Then passing the 200 Metres, SOCCER MASTER was steadied away from the heels of THOU SHALL SING when held up for clear running behind that horse.

In this incident, SOCCER MASTER became unbalanced when bumped by VOYAGE KING.

A Domeyer (GALLANT LEGACY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in under pressure when not clear of SONIC FIGHTER, causing that horse to be checked and in turn shifted in across the running of VOYAGE KING which was severely checked.

A Domeyer was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 18 May 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 23 May 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In addition, A Domeyer was fined $30,000.

Prior to the declaration of weighed-in, the Stewards confirmed the placing of SONIC FIGHTER to establish whether there were grounds for a protest/objection against GALLANT LEGACY which finished 4th.

As SONIC FIGHTER was semaphored as the 7th placegetter and consequently not able to obtain prizemoney, there were no grounds to lodge a protest/objection on that horse's behalf with weighed-in being declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

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

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

When questioned regarding the improved performance of INTREPIC, Trainer D J Hall stated that at its last start, from a wide barrier, it had been decided to ride the horse quietly rather than use it up to cross runners to its inside.

He said after INTREPIC did not finish off that race, C Y Ho, who rode INTREPIC on that occasion, reported that the horse appeared to lose interest in the race and did not perform as expected.

Mr Hall said in the days subsequent to the race INTREPIC recovered very well and which confirmed Jockey Ho's opinion that the horse may have lost interest.

He said for this reason, irrespective of where INTREPIC drew today, it was his intention to have it ridden along in a forward position to ensure that INTREPIC switched on.

He added it would be his intention, wherever appropriate circumstances exist, for INTREPIC to be ridden positively in its future starts so that the horse does not perform as it did in its most recent start.

Z Purton reported that SONIC FIGHTER did not feel comfortable in its action after the race.

The Veterinary Officer subsequently reported that an examination of SONIC FIGHTER did not show any significant findings.

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

SONIC FIGHTER, INTREPIC and CARE FREE PRINCE were sent for sampling.