Recap by phillip woo

London Luckystar took control 150m out after getting a lovely ride to find the box seat from his tricky gate to score his first Hong Kong victory on his 32nd start in the city. It was a great training feat by Francis Lui Kin-wai, who prepared him to win on his second outing for the stable after his pleasing run on the dirt last month. Grand Power just got up for second after his one-off-the-fence trip in midfield. He is not easy to get right but was fitter for his single runs at each track this season. Regency Master ran on well to just miss second after making his run three from the rear along the inside. He has shown steady progress. Diamond Star ran on well from behind midfield to fill the frame. He is an honest Class Five performer. Daily Beauty ran on late down the outside after settling towards the rear from his wide draw. He is not far off a bottom. Oh Bravo held his ground after his rail run in midfield. Both Lotus Favourites and Jolly Honour ran on without menacing, ridden last and second last from wide draws. Smiling Face gave up the chase 150m out after getting held up. Favourite Handsome Veggie did not have much to offer after his one-out, one-back run. He could not build on his front-running fourth last start.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (88) - MAN CHEUNG HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1650Meters

OH BRAVO shifted out at the start and bumped HANDSOME VEGGIE.

DIAMOND STAR was crowded for room on jumping between GRAND POWER and FORTUNE WINNER, both of which shifted ground.

REGENCY MASTER began only fairly and then was steadied away from the heels of BOOMING WELL which shifted in on jumping.

After this, REGENCY MASTER was shifted across behind runners.

Also from the outside barriers, DAILY BEAUTY, JOLLY HONOUR and LOTUS FAVORITES were all steadied on jumping to obtain cover.

Passing the 1600 Metres, GRAND POWER was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HANDSOME VEGGIE when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse.

After the 750 Metres, SMILING FACE raced in restricted room inside OH BRAVO when improving into tight running inside that horse which itself was racing tight inside GRAND POWER.

At the entrance to the Straight, GRAND POWER raced tight outside HANDSOME VEGGIE which was taken out by LONDON LUCKYSTAR.

REGENCY MASTER had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight.

Passing the 350 Metres, OH BRAVO was momentarily held up for clear running behind HANDSOME VEGGIE and then passing the 300 Metres was shifted to the inside of that horse.

For some distance between the 250 Metres and the 100 Metres, SMILING FACE (L Currie) raced tight inside BOOMING WELL when improving into restricted room inside that horse.

In this incident, BOOMING WELL and SMILING FACE bumped and became unbalanced near the 125 Metres.

L Currie was advised to exercise due care when attempting tight runs to ensure that horses ridden by him and those around him are not hampered.

After the race, L Currie reported that whilst SMILING FACE was unable to obtain clear running for some distance when racing tight inside BOOMING WELL, nonetheless he did not believe that the horse was travelling strong enough to be able to finish the race off had he have obtained clear running.

He said he had to ride SMILING FACE vigorously rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight and, in his opinion, the horse was going to close the race off only fairly.

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

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HANDSOME VEGGIE, Z Purton stated that after beginning well he rode his mount along to obtain a forward position and when it appeared that runners to his outside, namely LONDON LUCKYSTAR and BOOMING WELL, were being ridden to obtain a forward position, he believed that he would have had to make further use of HANDSOME VEGGIE to continue forward and prevent those horses from crossing and therefore he allowed both LONDON LUCKYSTAR and BOOMING WELL to obtain a forward position and HANDSOME VEGGIE was able to obtain a position behind the speed.

He said after the 1200 Metres HANDSOME VEGGIE received cover from FORTUNE WINNER which shifted across to race outside the lead.

He said, in his opinion, HANDSOME VEGGIE did not seem to appreciate tonight's "Good to Firm??racing surface as the horse did not stretch out as comfortably in the middle stages as it did at its most recent start.

He added that HANDSOME VEGGIE came under pressure after the 500 Metres and did not quicken as he anticipated.

He said because of this he was unable to prevent LONDON LUCKYSTAR from shifting out to his inside at the entrance to the Straight.

He said after this despite being ridden out HANDSOME VEGGIE gave ground and was very disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish the race off.

A veterinary inspection of HANDSOME VEGGIE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

The performance of HANDSOME VEGGIE, favourite for tonight's race and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, HANDSOME VEGGIE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

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

After the race, LONDON LUCKYSTAR was found to be displaying mild post-race distress.

HANDSOME VEGGIE, LONDON LUCKYSTAR and GRAND POWER were sent for sampling.