Recap by phillip woo

Sparkling Knight led on the stands side from gate 12 and just held off the late surge of Strathpeffer for a third career win from 22 starts. He has been disappointing this campaign but his last win did come on a similar wet track. Strathpeffer made it close on the wire after peeling off the leader for a clear run 200m out ridden handy on the grandstand side. It was clearly his best run to date. Sparkling Dolphin plugged on to finish distant third after rolling forward to prompt the pace from a low draw 700m out. He was able to back up a win last start. Always Awesome ran on steadily from towards the rear to fill the frame. He's heading in the right direction on his two starts but likely needs a longer trip. Favourite Midas Touch just held his ground after a handy run. He needed the outing on debut. Debutant High Percentage kept on all right after a midfield run near the far side from a low draw. It was a positive debut effort but he's still a work in progress. Punted late Innoconstruction made some ground late from last after leaping in the air at the start. Healthy Healthy never landed a blow from behind midfield near the far side.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (657) - SAI VAN BRIDGE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1000Meters

STERLING WONGCHOY was withdrawn on 12.5.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore).

Before being allowed to race again, STERLING WONGCHOY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

As the start was effected, INNOCONSTRUCTION reared, resulting in its rider, B Avdulla, becoming badly unbalanced and INNOCONSTRUCTION losing ground.

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

HIGH PERCENTAGE was slow to begin.

LUCKY FUN jumped only fairly.

Shortly after the start, HEALTHY HEALTHY was crowded by ALWAYS AWESOME which was taken out by SPARKLING DOLPHIN when that runner shifted out.

H Bowman (ALWAYS AWESOME) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 150 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of TRIUMPHANT RETURN, resulting in that horse losing its rightful running when being crowded by ALWAYS AWESOME.

H Bowman was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 21 May 2023 and to expire on Thursday, 25 May 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Bowman's good race riding record.

Near the 100 Metres, INNOCONSTRUCTION, which was inclined to lay out, shifted out and bumped HAPPY HORSE.

After the race, C L Chau (HEALTHY HEALTHY) reported that his mount was not comfortable on today's racing surface.

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

Also after the race, H Bentley (HIGH PERCENTAGE) reported that his mount lay out throughout the event and over the concluding stages could not be ridden out to the finish when positioned close to the heels of SPARKLING DOLPHIN.

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

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

MIDAS TOUCH, SPARKLING KNIGHT and STRATHPEFFER were sent for sampling.