Recap by phillip woo

Post-time favourite V Chevaliers held off the late surge of Happy Win Win after hitting the front 100m out following a saloon run one-off behind the three pacemakers for a third win this season. Happy Win Win ran on strongly to finish a clear-cut second after a rails run worse than midfield. He did win well two back in Class Five over the 1,600m. Chairman Lo closed well to snatch third after improving to sit three deep without cover in midfield 800m out. It was his best run at his seventh start this term. Early favourite Faithful Trinity succumbed 100m out after claiming the lead outright at the 200m following a pace-pressing run from a middle draw. It was another honest performance. Best For You never got much of a breather after clearing to the lead 1,050m out and was stopping 100m out. Happy Warrior had his chance following a handy run along the fence with the claim well utilised. It was another below-par performance.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (272) - LYNDHURST HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

RED BRICK FIGHTER was withdrawn on 15.12.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood abnormality) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter AFTER ME Before being allowed to race again, RED BRICK FIGHTER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

CHAIRMAN LO shifted out at the start, resulting in DIONYSUS COLLIN being tightened onto the hindquarters of V CHEVALIERS which became unbalanced due to contact on its hindquarters.

In this incident, DIONYSUS COLLIN lost ground.

From wide barriers, HAPPY JAI JAI and HAPPY FORTUNE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, IMPECCABLE FELLOW raced tight inside AFTER ME which was steadied away from the heels of HAPPY WARRIOR (Apprentice C L Chau) which shifted in when not sufficiently clear.

Apprentice Chau was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he provides sufficient clearance when shifting ground.

A short distance later, AFTER ME was again steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of V CHEVALIERS which itself raced tight inside BEST FOR YOU.

The Stewards inquired into an incident near the 1300 Metres where IMPECCABLE FELLOW (M F Poon) was checked.

After taking evidence from M F Poon as well as A Badel (V CHEVALIERS) and K Teetan (BEST FOR YOU), Jockey Badel was given the benefit of the doubt as to whether he should be charged with careless riding in allowing his mount to shift into the rightful running of IMPECCABLE FELLOW.

In affording Jockey Badel the benefit of the doubt, the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that BEST FOR YOU, which was racing to the outside of V CHEVALIER, had not had some minor bearing on his movement.

Nonetheless Jockey Badel was reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to make more of an endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground.

Passing the 900 Metres, HAPPY FORTUNE was checked away from the heels of DIONYSUS COLLIN when travelling keenly.

Over the concluding stages, BEST FOR YOU was awkwardly placed inside the heels of FAITHFUL TRINITY which lay in under pressure.

When questioned, H N Wong stated that, from barrier 10, he was instructed to steady SHADOW BREAKER in the early stages and endeavour to find cover either in midfield or behind midfield.

He said it was explained to him that SHADOW BREAKER had been performing disappointingly of late when ridden in the lead and therefore it was hoped that by riding the horse patiently tonight, SHADOW BREAKER may be able to close off the race better than it had been in recent starts.

He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion he steadied SHADOW BREAKER with a view to taking a trailing positon behind CHAIRMAN LO, however, when that horse was also restrained by its rider, SHADOW BREAKER was left racing wide and without cover.

He said approaching the 1200 Metres SHADOW BREAKER commenced to travel keenly when racing without cover and commenced to proceed forward of its own accord, therefore rather than fight the horse, he allowed SHADOW BREAKER to stride forward as there was no opportunity to obtain cover.

He added along the Back Straight he continued to allow SHADOW BREAKER to roll forward, hoping to be able to shift in and race outside the leader BEST FOR YOU, however, leaving 800 Metres FAITHFUL TRINITY was shifted away from the rail and improved outside the heels of BEST FOR YOU which forced SHADOW BREAKER to remain racing wide and without cover throughout the event.

Mr K H Ting, trainer of SHADOW BREAKER, confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Wong.

He said at its two most recent starts SHADOW BREAKER had been disappointing after travelling keenly in the lead and as a consequence had failed to finish off its race.

He said tonight the intention was for the horse to find cover in the hope that it would relax and be able to close off better.

When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on BEST FOR YOU, K Teetan stated that in discussions with the connections, it was agreed that he should ride the horse positively and follow FAITHFUL TRINITY across as it was anticipated that that horse would lead on the rail.

He said rounding the first turn he was obliged to remain racing quite wide outside V CHEVALIERS and after the 1200 Metres allowed his mount to stride forward and cross V CHEVALIERS which resulted in BEST FOR YOU racing slightly in advance of FAITHFUL TRINITY.

He said he did consider restraining BEST FOR YOU to maintain the position outside of FAITHFUL TRINITY, however, BEST FOR YOU was racing quite strongly at this stage and when the rider of FAITHFUL TRINITY steadied that horse, he allowed BEST FOR YOU to stride into the lead.

He added BEST FOR YOU travelled reasonably comfortably along the Back Straight, however, when challenged by FAITHFUL TRINITY and SHADOW BREAKER approaching the 600 Metres, he was obliged to ride BEST FOR YOU along earlier than he had hoped and this resulted in the horse not being able to finish off the race.

V CHEVALIERS and HAPPY WIN WIN were sent for sampling.