Recap by phillip woo

Favourite A Smile Like Yours just held off the late-finishing Prance Dragon after dashing to the front near the 200m following a wide without cover run in midfield from the 700m to continue his fine form with a third win over this C&D this season. Prance Dragon rallied furiously to make it close on the wire after biding his time one from the rear after a tardy start from a wide draw. It was a fine effort carrying more weight following a laststart win. What A Legend came from the rear with one wider out to add some value to the tierce. He has been out of form but relished a return to his favourite Valley 1,200m. Theta Hedge kept on reasonably well to just edge Wins All for fourth after getting held up for a run early straight following a box-seat run. It was a much-improved effort at just his fourth start. Wins All ran on well to nearly fill the frame after getting posted three-tofour deep towards the rear from a wide draw. It was a solid effort in his first run back following a pelvic injury in May. E Legend stayed on all right after a one-off run fore of midfield. It was a pleasing debut run. Trust Me did work too hard going forward to track the leader. He's a better horse at Sha Tin.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (219) - THE HONG KONG GOLF CLUB CENTENARY CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 4 - 1200Meters

On arrival at the Start, PRANCE DRAGON was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race.

In the early stages, PRANCE DRAGON was shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier.

After travelling a short distance, TRUST ME shifted out and bumped A SMILE LIKE YOURS which shifted out and hampered KOKUSHI MUSOU.

KOKUSHI MUSOU then shifted out away from the heels of A SMILE LIKE YOURS, resulting in EVER JOY, which was being steadied from a wide barrier, being bumped, becoming unbalanced and shifting out abruptly, resulting in WHAT A LEGEND, which was also being steadied to obtain cover from the outside barrier, being hampered.

From a wide barrier, WINS ALL was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

THETA HEDGE made the turn near the 1000 Metres awkwardly when travelling keenly.

Passing the 900 Metres, WINS ALL was shifted away from the heels of TAKE WHAT YOU NEED which shifted in marginally which resulted in WINS ALL brushing the hindquarters of KOKUSHI MUSOU.

KOKUSHI MUSOU then shifted out when racing greenly, resulting in WINS ALL being hampered and losing ground when taken out towards TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.

EVER JOY, which was travelling very keenly when following WINS ALL, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence.

EVER JOY then continued to travel strongly for some distance after this.

After this, KOKUSHI MUSOU continued to race greenly and near the 450 Metres shifted out away from behind E LEGEND after improving to race close to the heels of that horse.

This caused KOKUSHI MUSOU to bump WINS ALL which became unbalanced and KOKUSHI MUSOU to be severely checked away from the heels of E LEGEND.

EVER JOY, which was following KOKUSHI MUSOU, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence.

After the 900 Metres, EVER JOY got its head on the side and lay in.

Also after the 900 Metres, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED was left racing wide and without cover.

Near the 250 Metres, THETA HEDGE was shifted out away from the heels of LORIZ to improve into tight running between that horse and TRUST ME.

Then passing the 200 Metres, THETA HEDGE was held up for clear running when racing in restricted room between TRUST ME which got its head on the side and shifted in marginally and LORIZ which shifted out.

WINS ALL lay in under pressure in the Straight.

When questioned, L Hewitson stated that it was felt that TAKE WHAT YOU NED would have sufficient early speed to be able to take up a forward position behind the leaders if possible.

He said TAKE WHAT YOU NEED began very well and he immediately rode his mount along to ensure that it was able to obtain a forward position.

He said he anticipated that LORIZ, which was racing to the inside of TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, would show sufficient speed to be able to cross runners to its inside and therefore he intended to shift across with that horse and race outside LORIZ.

He said despite being vigorously ridden for some distance in the early stages, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, after initially showing early speed, then would not respond to his riding and after the 1000 Metres, despite continuing being ridden vigorously, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED commenced to give ground.

He added along the Back Straight he continued to ride his mount along in an attempt to obtain as forward a position as possible on TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, however, the horse would not respond to his riding and raced much further back in the field than had been intended.

A veterinary inspection of TRUST ME, LORIZ and TAKE WHAT YOU NEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A SMILE LIKE YOURS and PRANCE DRAGON were sent for sampling.