Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Bullish Glory dashed strongly to grab Dionysus Collin in the shadows of the post after travelling fifth last along the fence following a tardy break for a first win at his 27th start. Dionysus Collin found one just too good after claiming the front 80m out chasing a solid pace on the fence. It was a cracking run. Cheerful Star came from last and widest out at the head of the straight to snatch a placing. He does appear from his three runs to have turned the corner this season. Punted late Royal Racer just failed to place after a tendency to lay out under pressure over the last 200m sitting a distant fourth in the run. Starlit Knight gave a cheeky sight in front after leading from a wide gate in his first try over the 1,800m. Good Days came up one-paced following a midfield run. He's more effective at Sha Tin. Heavenly Thought was held up and unable to improve behind the wayward Royal Racer over the final 200m.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (155) - GLOUCESTER HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1800Meters

CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE and GREAT SMART bumped on jumping due to both horses shifting ground.

CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE then lost ground when crowded for room between GREAT SMART and DIONYSUS COLLIN.

In this incident, DIONYSUS COLLIN became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE.

After this, GREAT SMART was steadied to obtain cover whilst CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE was ridden for a considerable distance to obtain a forward position.

BULLISH GLORY began only fairly.

From wide barriers, SANGRIA, GARLIC YEAH and CHEERFUL STAR were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

When being shifted across behind GREAT SMART near the 1650 Metres, GARLIC YEAH was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse.

Passing the 600 Metres, CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE, which was laying in, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of DIONYSUS COLLIN which was shifting to the outside of STARLIT KNIGHT.

After this, CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE gave ground and consequently finished tailed out.

The performance of CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE was considered unacceptable.

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

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

Passing the 75 Metres, K Teetan (GOOD DAYS) dropped his right rein.

K Teetan was advised that this was the second occasion tonight that he had dropped his rein.

As the Stewards had spoken to him regarding this matter last season, he was told that he must make every endeavour to ensure that he retains his reins so that adequate control over horses can be maintained.

He was further advised that should he come to notice again regarding this matter, further action may be taken.

Passing the 50 Metres, GOOD DAYS raced tight inside STARLIT KNIGHT.

In the Straight, HEAVENLY THOUGHT lay in and near the 150 Metres was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ROYAL RACER.

When questioned regarding his riding of STARLIT KNIGHT in the early and middle stages, H N Wong stated it was felt that CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE may lead and it was hoped that STARLIT KNIGHT would be able to obtain a position to that horse's outside.

He said he was told that if CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE was not able to lead, then it was acceptable for him to lead the race.

He said STARLIT KNIGHT began only fairly and he had to ride his mount along in the early stages.

He said he was aware that CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE had struck interference at the start and was being hard ridden in the early stages and as he believed that that horse would likely not be able to lead and when he observed that DIONYSUS COLLIN had begun well and had taken up a forward position, he shifted STARLIT KNIGHT across with that horse in the hope that STARLIT KNIGHT would be able to obtain a position outside that horse.

He said he attempted to remain racing to the outside of DIONYSUS COLLIN as STARLIT KNIGHT was attempting 1800 Metres at Happy Valley for the first time and he believed that racing outside another runner would allow STARLIT KNIGHT the opportunity to relax.

He said however that DIONYSUS COLLIN was steadied by its rider approaching the winning post on the first occasion and as STARLIT KNIGHT was travelling keenly, he had no alternative but to allow STARLIT KNIGHT to cross DIONYSUS COLLIN after the 1400 Metres and obtain the lead.

He added he immediately attempted to steady the horse, however, STARLIT KNIGHT would not relax.

He said he made a number of attempts to shorten the reins on STARLIT KNIGHT in an effort to steady the tempo and in particular approaching the 1100 Metres took a second hold of the horse to try and steady the tempo in the lead.

He said, despite his endeavours, STARLIT KNIGHT would not relax and he felt that applying any further pressure to the horse would result in it getting its head up and becoming unmanageable.

He said he was aware that the race was being run at a quick tempo, however, this was due to the fact that STARLIT KNIGHT would not relax in the lead.

H N Wong was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that STARLIT KNIGHT was proving difficult to settle and that he had made a number of attempts to steady the tempo on his mount, nonetheless, given the very fast tempo of the race in the middle stages, he must ensure that he makes every endeavour to set a pace which allows his mounts to finish off their races a best as they are able.

When questioned, M Chadwick stated that as DIONYSUS COLLIN had been slow to begin at the majority of its starts, it was anticipated that the horse would again not begin well and therefore it was hoped that it would be able to take up a position in about midfield at best.

He said DIONYSUS COLLIN began very well tonight and jumped better than HEAVENLY THOUGHT which was drawn immediately to his inside.

He said as he anticipated that HEAVENLY THOUGHT would take up a forward position and given that DIONYSUS COLLIN was carrying a light weight, he elected to allow the horse to obtain a forward position as he believed that he would have had to unnecessarily restrain DIONYSUS COLLIN to shift it across behind HEAVENLY THOUGHT which may also have resulted in DIONYSUS COLLIN having to race wide.

He said he did not have to ride DIONYSUS COLLIN along to obtain a forward position and he was able to cross runners to his inside prior to passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He said he then steadied his mount approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion to allow STARLIT KNIGHT to cross DIONYSUS COLLIN as he anticipated that this would help his mount to relax.

He said however that when CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE improved to the outside of DIONYSUS COLLIN near the 1300 Metres, his mount would then not relax and he was awkwardly placed behind STARLIT KNIGHT after the 1200 Metres.

He said he attempted to have the horse relax better as he was aware that the race was being run at a good tempo after the 1100 Metres, however, with CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE racing to the outside of DIONYSUS COLLIN and slightly in advance of his mount, DIONYSUS COLLIN continued to travel keenly and he was not able to bring the horse back any further.

He added he was aware that a gap had opened up between DIONYSUS COLLIN and the trailing horses, however, due to DIONYSUS COLLIN not relaxing, he was not able to take advantage of this gap and have the horse relax better and not be up on the pace in what was a quickly run race.

BULLISH GLORY and DIONYSUS COLLIN were sent for sampling.