Recap by phillip woo

Odds-on favourite Inner Flame still showed his inexperience when tending to wander a under pressure but was again plenty good after hitting the front near the 150m travelling better than midfield to remain unbeaten in two starts. Ping Hai Bravo closed nicely after settling fourth back from a wide gate to grab second 100m out. He turned up underdone so there's clearly upside to come from him and will appreciate a longer trip. Brownlamped Simply Fluke steamed home late down the outside from the rear of the field to fill a placing. He's heading in the right direction and can bob up at any moment. U W Brother kept on all right chasing decent fractions fourth on the fence. He's stuck on much better in his past two starts. Winston's Lad ran on without menacing from behind midfield. He's not far off a bottom. Wonder Brahma came up flat travelling midfield. He failed to build on a first-up placing but it's still early in his career.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (325) - CARPENTER HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

At declaration time, C Y Ho was declared as the rider of both WINSTON'S LAD and BRAVE BABY.

It was established that C Y Ho had a firm commitment to ride BRAVE BABY.

As such, the Stewards permitted H N Wong to be substituted as the rider of WINSTON'S LAD.

For this declaration error, C Y Ho was fined $2,000.

SOLAR POWER was slow to begin.

COURAGEOUS DRAGON began awkwardly and then lost ground when crowded for room between XIANG LAN QI and INNER FLAME which shifted in.

In the early stages, PING HAI BRAVO and COOL ACE were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover from the outside barriers.

Making the first turn after the 900 Metres, U W BROTHER got its head on the side and lost ground after being awkwardly placed inside the heels of BRAVE BABY.

At the 450 Metres, COOL ACE was shifted out away from the heels of WONDER BRAHMA (M F Poon) which improved to the outside of INNER FLAME.

When COOL ACE shifted out, PING HAI BRAVO was inconvenienced in consequence.

M F Poon was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he exercises more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances.

Passing the 400 Metres, BRAVE BABY was bumped by U W BROTHER as that horse shifted to the outside of MAJESTIC CONQUEROR.

HERE COMES TED, which was following U W BROTHER, was shifted to the inside of that horse in consequence.

Also passing the 400 Metres, COOL ACE raced tight outside WONDER BRAHMA which got its head on the side and lay out.

Near the 200 Metres, M F Poon dropped his right rein which then took some time to regather as he changed the whip into his right hand.

Passing the 75 Metres, SOLAR POWER shifted out and raced tight inside COURAGEOUS DRAGON.

COOL ACE raced greenly in the Straight and shifted ground on a number of occasions.

Throughout the race, SPARKLING DOLPHIN travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground.

When questioned, S de Sousa stated that he was asked to obtain a midfield position if possible on SIMPLY FLUKE from a wide barrier.

He said SIMPLY FLUKE was standing awkwardly prior to the start being effected and then as the gates opened got its head back, resulting in the horse beginning very awkwardly and his right foot slipping back in the iron which placed him at an immediate disadvantage.

He said he transferred his body weight to the left in the early stages in an attempt to have his right foot positioned correctly in the iron, however, he was not able to do so and whilst this occurred SIMPLY FLUKE lost ground and consequently settled further back in the field than had been intended.

He said he followed COURAGEOUS DRAGON in the middle stages and on straightening shifted SIMPLY FLUKE to the outside of that horse and he commenced to ride SIMPLY FLUKE out as best as he was able with his right foot still not properly positioned in the iron.

He added over the final 200 Metres SIMPLY FLUKE lay in under pressure whilst finishing off the race well.

After the race, C Y Ho (BRAVE BABY) stated that at its first up run for the season the horse's condition gave out in the early part of the Straight after racing up on the speed in the early and middle stages.

He said although BRAVE BABY gave ground over the latter stages of the race, he believed that this was due to fitness issues rather than any problem experienced by the horse.

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

A veterinary inspection of SPARKLING DOLPHIN immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

Before being allowed to race again, SPARKLING DOLPHIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

INNER FLAME and PING HAI BRAVO were sent for sampling.