Recap by phillip woo

Marado kept on nicely after hitting the front 150m out following a rails run in midfield. He was able to build on a solid fifth on debut from a better draw here and there's likely more to come from him. All Beauty stayed on very well after a prominent run to finish a close second. It was a solid effort on debut and he'll be winning races. Zacian ran on well after slotting one-off in midfield with cover before the first bend to grab a placing in deep stretch. Favourite Gluck Racer kept on one-paced after getting bothered and repeatedly bumped by the late-plunged Most Welcome after quickly finding the front from a wide draw. He had an excuse. Most Welcome had a tendency to lay in under pressure in the run to the wire after going forward to just shade Gluck Racer for the lead from gate 13. He's shown a bit more fight in his past two runs. Happy Daily made up ground from towards the rear in a race run to suit the leaders. It was a positive debut performance. Dragon Baby ran on without ever looking a chance settling fifth from the rear. Like the latter, the pace didn't work out but he has been a disappointment in his past four starts.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (761) - ONYX HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

MAN UP began awkwardly, shifted out and inconvenienced ZACIAN.

IRON KING began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped VICTORY MORE which in turn shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of GLUCK RACER which became unbalanced and shifted out, resulting in MOST WELCOME momentarily racing in restricted room inside WHO LOVES THE ACE.

R Maia (MARADO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 1100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of DRAGON BABY, causing that horse to be checked when unnecessarily crowded for room inside MARADO.

R Maia was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 26 June 2021 and to expire on Friday, 2 July 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In addition, Jockey Maia was fined $7,500.

After the 1100 Metres, HAPPY DAILY, which was travelling keenly, momentarily raced in restricted room inside THE JOLLY which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MAN UP.

In the early stages, FLYING PHOTOS raced with its head on the side and lay in.

When being steadied to obtain cover from a wide barrier in the early stages, IRON KING travelled keenly.

IRON KING continued to travel very keenly for some distance in the early and middle stages and made the turn near the 800 Metres awkwardly and was then left racing wide and without cover passing the 800 Metres.

THE JOLLY made the turn near the 850 Metres awkwardly.

Approaching the 300 Metres, GLUCK RACER raced tight inside MOST WELCOME (A Hamelin) which lay in under pressure.

GLUCK RACER continued to race tight inside MOST WELCOME as that horse continued to lay in which resulted in GLUCK RACER and MOST WELCOME making contact on a number of occasions between the 300 Metres and until passing the 100 Metres, causing both horses to become unbalanced.

A Hamelin was told that whilst the Stewards accepted that MOST WELCOME had been difficult to ride at this stage due to laying in, nonetheless he must ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and making unnecessary contact with other horses.

At the 75 Metres, THIS IS CHARISMA was struck over the nose by the whip of B Shinn (WHO LOVES THE ACE).

In the Straight, IRON KING lay out under pressure and shifted ground on a number of occasions.

Throughout the race, VICTORY MORE travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, A Badel stated that, from barrier 12, he was asked to ride GLUCK RACER in a forward position if it began well.

He said it was felt that there would be an opportunity for the horse to be ridden positively in the early stages without having to be made too much use of given that it was wearing blinkers for the first occasion today.

He said after beginning well, GLUCK RACER was able to obtain a forward position without having to be ridden along.

He said he did give consideration to allowing MOST WELCOME, which was racing to GLUCK RACER's outside, to take the lead and provide his mount with cover, however, when MOST WELCOME did not continue on into the lead, he was comfortable to allow GLUCK RACER to maintain a position to that horse's inside.

He said given that GLUCK RACER was not comfortable in the Home Straight when racing tight inside MOST WELCOME, he believed that the horse finished off the race well given the circumstances.

A veterinary inspection of DRAGON BABY immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg.

Before being allowed to race again, DRAGON BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

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

GLUCK RACER, MARADO and ALL BEAUTY were sent for sampling.