Recap by phillip woo

Massive Sovereign quickened nicely to win going away near the 200m after a rails run from behind midfield to stamp himself as a potential Derby contender. It was an eye-catching debut effort in Hong Kong. Simple Hedge weaved run near the inside to just take second travelling fourth last after a slow start. He's a winner waiting to happen. Billionaire Secret came from near last and widest out to just miss second prize money. It was best effort from its past five starts in this grade. Holy Lake lost a placing late after getting all favours in the box seat. It was a decent performance with a step up to 2,000m. Eighteen Carat gradually faded after working to the lead 1,650m from gate 10. It was an improved effort. Intrepid Winner made some ground late without threatening near the inside after getting held up early straight travelling four from the rear. Flaming Trillion came up one paced over the final 200m after working forward very wide to track the speed without cover from gate 14. He had an excuse.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine : (473) - SOMERSET HANDICAP - Class 3 - 2000Meters

Horse No 1 BRAVEHEARTS (H389) A Hamelin Crowded shortly after the start.

Horse No 2 SIMPLE HEDGE (H237) R Moore Slow to begin.

Bumped on the headquarters near the 350 Metres.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 3 SILVER KING (H420) M L Yeung Bumped at the start.

Ran wide making the first turn.

The performance of SILVER KING, which finished tailed out on the second occasion in recent starts, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, SILVER KING will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination which must include additional diagnostic assessments.

A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer" which had previously been reported.

Horse No 4 MASSIVE SOVEREIGN (J208) Z Purton Jumped only fairly.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 5 LEAN HERO (G402) K Teetan After the race, K Teetan reported that his mount made a respiratory noise during the event.

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

Before being allowed to race again, LEAN HERO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Horse No 6 NOBLE PURSUIT (H324) H Bowman When questioned regarding his riding, H Bowman stated that he anticipated taking up a handy position with cover.

He said in the early stages he was able to obtain a position behind ENIGMA, however, that runner raced keenly and got its head up on a number of occasions.

He added that after entering the Back Straight when he observed FLAMINGO TRILLION racing in a three wide position, he was of the view it would be advantageous to shift NOBLE PURSUIT out and to follow FLAMINGO TRILLION to provide his mount with a trail into the event.

He added when he commenced a forward move, ENIGMA, which had continued to race keenly, shifted out which resulted in NOBLE PURSUIT being taken four wide and without cover near the 1100 Metres.

He said as a result when he was of the view the pace of the event would allow him to do so, he then commenced to allow NOBLE PURSUIT to stride forward with a view to crossing FLAMINGO TRILLION.

He said as he commenced to do so, the pace of the event quickened when FLAMINGO TRILLION endeavoured to prevent NOBLE PURSUIT from crossing which then resulted in NOBLE PURSUIT being obliged to race four wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres.

After considering the explanations, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Bowman were reasonable and that he would not have been able to reasonably anticipate ENIGMA shifting out near the 1100 Metres as its rider Apprentice Y L Chung had endeavoured to remain racing behind LEAN HERO throughout the early and middle stages.

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

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 8 INTREPID WINNER (G144) K De Melo From the 450 Metres was held up for clear running behind SILVER KING as that runner commenced to give ground.

Near the 350 Metres was checked when disappointed between SIMPLE HEDGE and SILVER KING and as a result made contact with the hindquarters of SIMPLE HEDGE.

Horse No 11 ENIGMA (J077) Y L Chung Bumped on jumping and as a result became unbalanced.

Near the 1800 Metres raced keenly and got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover.

Continued to race keenly in the early stages and refused to settle.

Near the 1100 Metres was shifted to the outside of LEAN HERO when it continued to race keenly and was then steadied away from the heels of FLAMINGO TRILLION for some distance thereafter.

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

Horse No 12 FLAMINGO TRILLION (H192) K C Leung Making the first turn was carried wider by SILVER KING which shifted out.

Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

Horse No 13 BILLIONAIRE SECRET (G303) M Chadwick Crowded at the start.

Horse No 14 EIGHTEEN CARAT (J104) A Badel Made contact with a rail at the Start, examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race.

Delayed the start when it was difficult to load into the starting gates.

Before being allowed to race again, EIGHTEEN CARAT will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial.

Horse No AWESOME FLUKE (J050) B Shinn Withdrawn on 29.2.24 after obtaining a run in Race 7 and replaced by Standby Declared Starter SILVER KING.