Recap by phillip woo

Old-timer Thunder Stomp easily made all after getting his own way in front at slow sections. He had put the writing on the wall in his past two starts but may find things harder in Class Three again. Dor Dor ran on well to grab second 50m out after a deep run with cover behind midfield. He's racing very well over this Valley trip. Favourite Casa De Forca came on well near the inside to fill a placing after a one-off run worse than midfield. Wellbacked Flame Lily kept plugging away to just miss a placing following a one-out, oneback run. He was again anchored for more by the big weight. Punted late Lightning Steed was on his tippy toes 100m out after stalking the winner in the run from a wide gate. He found a few too good on this occasion. Management Star finished well down the outside to just finish out of the frame after making his run at the rear of the field following a very slow start. His poor gate antics keep costing him.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (395) - WONG NAI CHUNG HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

MANAGEMENT STAR stood flat-footed as the start was effected and consequently lost a significant amount of ground.

Having regard to MANAGEMENT STAR's previous poor record of leaving the barrier stalls in a timely manner, the Stewards ruled that that horse must perform satisfactory in a series of consecutive barrier trials prior to being allowed to race again.

FANTASTIC BOY shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of CASA DE FORCA, causing both horses to become unbalanced.

From the outside barriers, SUPREME PATROL and BULB ELITE were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

DOR DOR and TUNG WAH GLORY were also steadied to obtain cover in the early stages.

For some distance after the 1400 Metres, SNOW AIRJET proved very difficult to settle when being steadied to obtain cover.

Passing the 1300 Metres, FLAME LILY got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly across the heels of LIGHTNING STEED.

ORIENTAL ELITE, which was racing outside FLAME LILY, was inconvenienced in consequence.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, CASA DE FORCA was crowded for room between FANTASTIC BOY and DOR DOR, both of which shifted ground.

BULB ELITE had difficulty obtaining clear running approaching and passing the 100 Metres.

Close to the finishing line, TUNG WAH GLORY and MANAGEMENT STAR raced tight.

Throughout the race, ORIENTAL ELITE travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, J Moreira stated that he was instructed to ride CASA DE FORCA in the first three if possible.

He said after CASA DE FORCA became unbalanced on jumping, this resulted in FLAME LILY and THUNDER STOMP, which were drawn outside CASA DE FORCA, having an advantage over his mount in the early stages.

He said as both horses were being vigorously ridden to obtain a forward position, he believed that he would have had to make a lot of use of CASA DE FORCA to prevent those horses from crossing his mount and therefore he steadied CASA DE FORCA approaching the winning post on the first occasion to allow FLAME LILY to cross.

He said he was comfortable to allow that horse to cross as it appeared as though FLAME LILY was going to take up a leading position, however, after crossing CASA DE FORCA passing the winning post on the first occasion, FLAME LILY was then steadied to allow LIGHTNING STEED to cross and this resulted in CASA DE FORCA racing further back in the field than had been intended.

CASA DE FORCA, THUNDER STOMP and DOR DOR were sent for sampling.