Recap by phillip woo

Super Red Dragon quickened nicely to get up 30m out for the win after pushing out for a clear run 300m out following a rail run in midfield. One Happy Star nearly stole the race after going straight to the front from gate one. It was clearly his best run to date at his fifth start. Triple Triple just held on for third after enjoy all favours in the box-seat. He's in the right grade but the 1,400m suits him better. Newcomer Cheerful Days might have toppled them all for the win if not held up for a run over the last 100m following a patient ride fourth from the rear. He has natural ability. Winning Steed ran on well from behind midfield to nearly fill the frame. It was an improved effort following an even debut effort last month. Diamond Pegasus grudgingly gave way after staking the leader one off from a wide gate. It wasn't a bad effort. Honest Way ran on late without menacing but got too far back in the run from a wide gate following a stable change.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (115) - SHA TIN WAI HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

NOBLE CONSORT was withdrawn on 15.10.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lung infection and lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ONE HAPPY STAR.

Before being allowed to race again, NOBLE CONSORT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

SPARKY STAR began only fairly and then shortly after the start was shifted in away from the heels of TRIPLE TRIPLE.

RHAPSODY began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between RIGHTEOUS WIN and RED MAJESTY which shifted out.

ABOVE ALL was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

From wide barriers, GRATWICK and HONEST WAY were also shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover.

Passing the 1000 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS shifted in towards the heels of SUPER RED DRAGON when racing in restricted room between that horse and RHAPSODY and as a consequence became unbalanced and lost ground.

Approaching the 900 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS, which was racing greenly, became unbalanced and lost ground when reluctant to hold its position between SPARKY STAR and WINNING STEED.

When CHEERFUL DAYS lost ground, ABOVE ALL was shifted out away from the heels of that horse and bumped GRATWICK which was hampered and shifted out, causing HONEST WAY to be also hampered and taken wider.

HONEST WAY was then shifted across behind GRATWICK and ABOVE ALL to obtain cover.

Passing the 900 Metres, RHAPSODY commenced to travel keenly and shifted out abruptly away from the heels of RED MAJESTY, resulting in RIGHTEOUS WIN being checked and losing ground when crowded for room inside SHANGHAI POWER.

As the Stewards were satisfied that this incident was as a result of RHAPSODY over-racing at this stage, no further action was taken.

Passing the 700 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS, ABOVE ALL and GRATWICK raced tight.

After the 600 Metres, SUPER RED DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TRIPLE TRIPE when racing keenly.

At the 350 Metres, RIGHTEOUS WIN was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SPARKY STAR which shifted out.

Passing the 300 Metres, RHAPSODY was bumped by RED MAJESTY which was taken out by SUPER RED DRAGON which improved into tight running on the outside of DIAMOND PEGASUS.

Throughout the race, SHANGHAI POWER travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned regarding his riding out CHEERFUL DAYS over the concluding stages, C Y Ho stated that the horse, which was having its first race start today, raced very greenly in the early and middle stages and was reluctant to hold its position when racing amongst horses.

He said he balanced up his mount after the 600 Metres and commenced to ride CHEERFUL DAYS along rounding the Home Turn and it commenced to finish off the race well.

He said after the 200 Metres he attempted to improve between TRIPLE TRIPLE and DIAMOND PEGASUS, however, DIAMOND PEGASUS was taken in by SUPER RED DRAGON near the 150 Metres which resulted in CHEERFUL DAYS being initially disappointed for this run.

He said after shifting out away from the heels of TRIPLE TRIPLE passing the 100 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS, which was finishing off the race strongly, improved into tight running inside DIAMOND PEGASUS and behind ONE HAPPY STAR.

He added he shifted away from the heels of ONE HAPPY STAR approaching the 50 Metres to trail the eventual winner SUPER RED DRAGON and he looked to his outside to establish whether it was available to him to shift further to the outside of SUPER RED DRAGON.

He said at this stage DIAMOND PEGASUS was racing immediately to the outside of CHEERFUL DAYS and inside WINNING STEED which was improving its position to the outside of DIAMOND PEGASUS.

He said he felt that to have shifted CHEERFUL DAYS to the outside of SUPER RED DRAGON would have caused interference to DIAMOND PEGASUS given where that horse and WINNING STEED were positioned and therefore he was not able to shift to the outside of SUPER RED DRAGON over the concluding stages.

He said these circumstances resulted in CHEERFUL DAYS not being able to be properly tested over the final 100 Metres and also not being able to be ridden out to the end of the race.

After viewing the videos and considering Jockey Ho's evidence, the Stewards accepted his explanation.

After the race, A Hamelin stated that after initially deciding to ride ABOVE ALL forward during pre-race discussions with connections, it was felt that too much use would have to be made of the horse in the early stages and as there did not appear to be any disadvantage racing from off the speed today, it was decided to shift the horse behind runners in the early stages and obtain cover.

He said after getting further out of its ground in the early stages than had been intended, ABOVE ALL was nonetheless disappointing in today's race as the horse did not close off as it did at its first race start.

A veterinary inspection of ABOVE ALL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

TRIPLE TRIPLE, SUPER RED DRAGON and ONE HAPPY STAR were sent for sampling.