Recap by phillip woo

Sunlight Power responded nicely when asked for an effort to win going away 100m out following a one-off trip from midfield for a first win at his ninth start. He lived up to a barnstorming second last start. Ariel kept on gamely to finish a clear-cut second after leading on his own from gate one. He's racing well without winning. Early favourite Top Scorer finished well widest out after fading back to travel third last from gate 12. It was another good performance despite a rise in trip. Can't Go Wong ran on nicely through the middle for fourth after fading back to settle towards the rear from gate 14. He does appear from a couple of his past three starts to be near a bottom. Patch Of Time kept on one paced after a prominent run on the fence. He can breakthrough at any time after finishing around the mark in four of five starts. Cordyceps One held his ground after a handy run. He went all right following a last start win in Class Five. Only U made headway late without threatening from towards the rear. Joy Of Spring never figured after getting held up for a run from the 300m until the 150m after making his run one from the rear.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine : (396) - GLADIOLUS HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

Horse No 1 YOU'REMYEVERYTHING (E413) Y L Chung Jumped only fairly and then was crowded shortly after the start.

Horse No 2 ONLY U (J037) C L Chau Shortly after the start was crowded between HAPPY FOR ALL which was taken out by MASTER TORNADO and TOP SCORER which shifted in before being corrected by its rider Z Purton.

Near the 100 Metres was bumped and became unbalanced.

C L Chau was warned in relation to raising his whip arm above shoulder height.

Horse No 3 ARIEL (G223) L Hewitson Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 4 TOP SCORER (J120) Z Purton When questioned, Z Purton stated that from a wide barrier he was instructed by Trainer J Size to ride the horse preferably midfield with cover but given the option of racing further back if required to obtain cover.

He said although TOP SCORER commenced well today and it would have been open to him to go forward, given the specific instructions issued, he elected to come back in order to find cover and ride in accordance with his instructions.

He said in the early stages when positioned to the outside and behind HAPPY FOR ALL, he was of the view that HAPPY FOR ALL would obtain a position with cover behind CORDYCEPS ONE and for this reason he elected to come back and race behind ONLY U to avoid being caught wide and without cover.

He said after obtaining a trailing position behind ONLY U near the 1000 Metres, TOP SCORER travelled reasonably well.

He added from the 600 Metres when the pace of the race quickened he commenced to encourage TOP SCORER to go forward, but his mount became one-paced for some distance thereafter and after shifting to the outside of ONLY U at the entrance to the Home Straight ran home strongly.

Mr Size confirmed the instructions were to endeavour to hold a midfield position with cover but also said that Jockey Purton was given the option to settle further back if he was not able to obtain a midfield position with cover.

He said the instructions issued to Jockey Purton today were due to TOP SCORER not beginning well at its only two previous race starts and felt that, given the wide draw today, such instructions would provide TOP SCORER with the best opportunity to finish the race off.

After considering the evidence of Jockey Purton and Trainer Size, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Purton in the circumstances were reasonable.

Horse No 5 MASTER TORNADO (G410) K Teetan Examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables for an abrasion to the left hind cannon before the race and passed suitable to start.

Near the 100 Metres shifted out and made contact with ONLY U.

Horse No 6 JOY OF SPRING (H383) H Bowman Jumped only fairly.

Near the 250 Metres became held up for clear running behind HAPPY FOR ALL which was giving ground which resulted in JOY OF SPRING having to be shifted to the outside to secure clear running near the 100 Metres.

After the race, H Bowman reported that, in his opinion, JOY OF SPRING would have finished the race off well but after being held up between the 250 Metres and the 100 Metres his mount lost momentum.

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

Horse No 7 RAINBOW DELIGHT (J009) M Chadwick A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Horse No 8 HAPPY FOR ALL (H181) K C Leung An inquiry into the reason for HAPPY FOR ALL being steadied after the 1200 Metres was adjourned to the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday, 7 February 2024.

Raced wide and without cover from the 800 Metres.

When giving ground near the 200 Metres raced in restricted room between MASTER TORNADO and CAN'T GO WONG.

Horse No 9 ISLAND GOLDEN (H018) B Avdulla Raced wide and without cover until near the 800 Metres.

Horse No 10 PATCH OF TIME (H483) L Ferraris Slow to begin.

Horse No 11 SUNLIGHT POWER (H244) H Bentley Near the 700 Metres raced ungenerously when positioned to the inside of HAPPY FOR ALL.

Lay in in the early part of the Home Straight.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 12 CAN'T GO WONG (H087) M F Poon From the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

From the 300 Metres until inside the 200 Metres had difficulty obtaining clear running.

Horse No GOLDEN CHAMPION (H348) A Badel GOLDEN CHAMPION (standby runner) was withdrawn on 1.2.24 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (bled from right nostril after track work).

Before being allowed to race again, GOLDEN CHAMPION will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.