Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Joyful Mood just held on for the win after showing terrific gate speed to lead by two lengths rounding the final bend. He was able to build on a debut third last month and he can win again. Street Scream made it close on the wire after a wide run without cover better than midfield from an outside draw. He had been racing well at Sha Tin without winning and the switch to the Valley nearly worked the oracle. Flaming Eagle stayed on well for third after settling in the box-seat. It was a pleasing effort on debut. Nordic Combined ran on steadily along the inside to fill the frame after a rails run in midfield. It was a better effort from gate one after an OK showing on debut from the widest draw. Triple Triple had his chance after a one-out, one-back run. The big weight anchored him. Moonluck ran on without menacing after a one-off trip behind midfield. He'll be one to keep safe next time out in Class Five. Spontaneous made some ground late but never looked a threat travelling two from the rear. He's just not the same horse this season. Ever Force was gone 200m out after working forward three wide without cover to chase the eventual winner from a wide draw. He had an excuse.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (486) - TSUI LOK HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

JOYFUL MOOD shifted in at the start and hampered NORDIC COMBINED.

MOONLUCK began only fairly.

NATURAL GOLD, which was leaning on the outside of its barrier stall as the start was effected, began awkwardly and then lost ground when hampered by SPONTANEOUS which shifted in.

From a wide barrier, AMBITIOUS HEART was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Near the 1150 Metres, TRIPLE TRIPLE shifted out and inconvenienced HEAVENLY THOUGHT.

Passing the 1100 Metres, BABY, which was racing wide, was steadied to obtain cover.

Passing the 900 Metres, HEAVENLY THOUGHT raced tight between MOONLUCK and SPONTANEOUS which shifted in.

Near the 150 Metres, TRIPLE TRIPLE shifted out away from the heels of STREET SCREAM.

Throughout the race, STREET SCREAM travelled wide and without cover and passing the 300 Metres got its head on the side, hung in and proved difficult to ride until after the 200 Metres.

When questioned, C L Chau stated that he was instructed to ensure SPONTANEOUS began well and not to ride his mount along in the early stages to cross runners to his inside from barrier

8.

He said it was hoped that SPONTANEOUS would be able to obtain a position with cover in about midfield.

He said he was told if he was not able to obtain cover, then he should steady his mount back in the field as far as necessary to ensure that SPONTANEOUS was able to obtain a trailing position.

He said SPONTANEOUS began well tonight and although the horse initially held a margin over FLAMING EAGLE which was racing inside SPONTANEOUS, he believed that he would have had to ride his mount along to cross that horse as FLAMING EAGLE was maintaining its position without being ridden along.

He said without restraining his mount, he attempted to obtain a position with cover initially behind FLAMING EAGLE, however, as a number of horses, which were racing to the inside of SPONTANEOUS, improved their positions, this resulted in SPONTANEOUS racing very wide making the turn after the 1000 Metres.

He added that when it was not available to him to obtain cover after the 900 Metres, he steadied SPONTANEOUS after this point to obtain a position behind HEAVENLY THOUGHT near the 700 Metres which resulted in SPONTANEOUS racing towards the rear of the field.

The Stewards will interview Mr P O'Sullivan, trainer of SPONTANEOUS, regarding the instructions he provided to Jockey Chau prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Saturday, 12 March 2022.

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

JOYFUL MOOD and STREET SCREAM were sent for sampling.