Recap by phillip woo

Wood On Fire zipped home down the outside from near last to get the head down on the wire for the win. He had run well in defeat in two prior starts over this this Valley trip and can score again. Wins All got up in the last bound to share second with Whiskey Neat after settling four back and one off the fence from a wide gate. He continues to shine this season after a stable change. Whiskey Neat kept on well for a slice of second after a oneoff run chasing the speed. He did get every chance in the run. Favourite Inno Legend peaked on his run 50m out after getting every chance one off in midfield. It wasn't a bad effort but he tends to go a shade better at Sha Tin. Here Comes Ted ran on well to just miss the frame after getting left without cover the entire trip travelling fifth from the back. The gate cost him. Land Power held his ground travelling midfield on the fence. He needed the run in his season debut here. Colonel didn't have much left in the tank 150m out after clearing to lead from a wide gate. The extra eight pounds following a last start win was too much to overcome.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (254) - MAURITIUS HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

NOBLE MAN and WHISKEY NEAT bumped at the start.

DONC JE SUIS began only fairly and then was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

INNO LEGEND shifted out at the start, resulting in M M JOHNNY being hampered.

WOOD ON FIRE began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped WINS ALL which in turn shifted out and bumped HERE COMES RED.

After this, from wide barriers, WOOD ON FIRE and WINS ALL were shifted across behind runners.

SUPREME PLUS was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Despite being vigorously ridden for a considerable distance in the early stages, HERE COMES TED failed to muster speed and subsequently travelled wide and without cover throughout the race.

Passing the 1000 Metres, LAND POWER was awkwardly placed inside INNO LEGEND which was steadied to obtain cover behind WHISKEY NEAT.

After the 800 Metres, WHISKEY NEAT raced tight outside NOBLE MAN which shifted out when being crossed by COLONEL.

Making the turn near the 550 Metres, M M JOHNNY raced in restricted room inside WINS ALL which lay in when making the turn awkwardly.

DONC JE SUIS made the turn near the 550 Metres awkwardly.

Passing the 300 Metres, LAND POWER was awkwardly placed behind NOBLE MAN.

After the 300 Metres, WHISKEY NEAT shifted in under pressure and inconvenienced NOBLE MAN.

After the race, V Borges attributed COLONEL's failure to finish off the race to the amount of work that it had to do in the early stages to cross runners to its inside from the outside barrier.

He said he had to ride COLONEL along for longer than he had hoped to be able to cross to race on the rail after the 800 Metres.

He said because of the amount of work that it had to do, COLONEL came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and then did not finish off the race.

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

When questioned, J Moore (NOBLE MAN) stated that his mount travelled well in the early and middle stages, however, came under pressure after the 500 Metres.

He said NOBLE MAN lay in in the early part of the Straight under pressure, however, the horse was beaten at this time.

He added NOBLE MAN then gave ground noticeably over the latter stages of the race and, in his opinion, was disappointing.

A veterinary inspection of NOBLE MAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of SUPREME PLUS 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, SUPREME PLUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

INNO LEGEND, WOOD ON FIRE, WHISKEY NEAT and WINS ALL were sent for sampling.