Recap by phillip woo

Duke Wai quickened nicely to get up for the win after travelling two-to-three deep with cover in midfield. The win was well deserved after knocking on the door on both surfaces in seven of eight other starts this term. Silver Fig came from near last to make it close on the wire. He has been mixing his form of late but is very good on this surface and was suited by the pace. Keep You Warm stayed on nicely to finish a bob away in third after getting held up for a run until the 150m following a box-seat run. He's racing consistently well on both surfaces. Red Desert got going late to fill the frame after making his run two from the rear. He's always a chance on this surface. Firming favourite Majestic Star came up one-paced after recovering from a sluggish start to travel wide without cover better than midfield. He had an excuse. Czarson ran on without menacing from the rear of the field. He wasn't up to the challenge at this level. Master Montaro plodded after a rails run in midfield. He requires rating relief. Second favourite Kurpany had nothing left in the tank 100m out after moving to the front 250m out after stalking the genuine pace of Highly Proactive.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (543) - SILVERMINE BAY HANDICAP - Class 1 - 1200Meters

MAJESTIC STAR began only fairly and then was bumped by DUKE WAI which shifted out.

CZARSON shifted out on jumping and bumped MASTER MONTARO.

After travelling a short distance, KURPANY and HIGHLY PROACTIVE bumped.

From the outside barriers, SILVER FIG and RED DESERT were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, MAJESTIC STAR was momentarily crowded for room inside HIGHLY PROACTIVE (H T Mo) which shifted in.

In this incident, MAJESTIC STAR bumped the hindquarters of DUKE WAI which became unbalanced.

H T Mo was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

Near the 950 Metres, KEEP YOU WARM shifted out away from the heels of HIGHLY PROACTIVE and in doing so inconvenienced DUKE WAI.

MAJESTIC STAR, which was racing outside DUKE WAI, shifted out away from that horse in consequence.

Making the turn near the 700 Metres, MASTER MONTARO lay in and brushed the running rail.

CZARSON made the turn near the 700 Metres awkwardly and became unbalanced.

Shortly after entering the Straight, KURPANY shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of HIGHLY PROACTIVE.

In the early part of the Straight, KEEP YOU WARM was held up for clear running and after the 300 Metres was shifted to the outside of KURPANY to improve into tight running between that horse and MAJESTIC STAR.

When being shifted out, KEEP YOU WARM bumped the hindquarters of MAJESTIC STAR, causing that horse to become unbalanced and shift in which resulted in KEEP YOU WARM being hampered when crowded for room between KURPANY and MAJESTIC STAR.

KEEP YOU WARM was then held up for clear running until passing the 200 Metres.

As the Stewards were of the opinion that the shift in from MAJESTIC STAR was as a result of becoming unbalanced due to contact on its hindquarters from KEEP YOU WARM, no further action was taken.

Near the 250 Metres, SILVER FIG, which was having difficulty obtaining clear running, shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of RED DESERT which became unbalanced.

CZARSON was unable to obtain clear running from passing the 200 Metres until near the 100 Metres.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of KURPANY, K H Chan stated that after riding his mount along in the early stages, he was able to obtain a forward position and raced outside the leader HIGHLY PROACTIVE.

He said KURPANY did not travel as strongly tonight as it did at its most recent start when the horse was successful after enjoying an uncontested lead.

He said nonetheless he felt that KURPANY was travelling well enough to finish the race off and after being placed under pressure near the 400 Metres initially responded satisfactorily to his riding.

He said however that when runners improved to the outside of KURPANY after the 300 Metres, the horse came under heavy pressure and did not finish the race off as well as it did last start.

He added that whilst KURPANY was not able to lead the race outright as it did at its last start, nonetheless, in his opinion, the horse was disappointing tonight given the manner in which it weakened over the latter stages.

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

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

MAJESTIC STAR, DUKE WAI and SILVER FIG were sent for sampling.