Recap by phillip woo

Phoenix Light showed a good turn of foot to get up 20m out after a one-off trip from behind midfield to ring up a second Sha Tin 1,200m win and a runner-up effort at the Valley from his past three starts. He's in very good form. James Tak stayed on a close second after chasing the speed three wide without cover from a tricky gate. It was solid effort carrying a big weight on the back of a win. Full Credit went for home on top 350m but lost second late after working hard to track the leader from gate seven. It was another progressive performance despite a rise in class. Star Club came from last near the inside for fourth without a clear run until the 120m. He should have gone close to winning with unimpeded running. Gracious Express stayed on all right after a handy run along the inside following a sluggish star. He's not far off a winning run. Gustosisimo made a good impression to finish next best without a clear run until just under the 200m travelling two from the rear. It was a nice debut effort in Hong Kong. Stellar Express just plodded after getting posted four wide without cover the entire race from midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten : (626) - FWD INSURANCE CMB WING LUNG BANK HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

Horse No 1 HASTEN DELIGHT (J229) H Bowman After the race, H Bowman reported that his mount raced too keenly in the early stages.

He added that after entering the Home Straight HASTEN DELIGHT had some difficulty obtaining clear running when positioned behind GRACIOUS EXPRESS and finished the race off in a one-paced manner.

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

Horse No 2 JAMES TAK (J007) C L Chau Approaching the 100 Metres lay out under pressure, resulting in its rider C L Chau having to correct his mount.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 3 STELLAR EXPRESS (J186) J McDonald Was obliged to race very wide and without cover throughout the event.

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

Horse No 4 GUSTOSISIMO (J303) C Y Ho Jumped only fairly and from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Horse No 5 STORM RIDER (J027) Z Purton From the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 100 Metres was steadied when momentarily crowded between MASSIVE ACTION and GUSTOSISIMO.

After the race, Z Purton stated that his mount failed to handle the "Yielding ' track conditions and blundered on a number of occasions.

Horse No 6 GRACIOUS EXPRESS (J188) H Bentley Jumped awkwardly and was then hampered when bumped by TELECOM POWER which shifted out.

Horse No 7 STAR CLUB (H239) B Shinn When questioned regarding his riding, B Shinn stated that he had expected to take a position towards the rear of the field as STAR CLUB had performed best when being ridden in this manner.

When questioned regarding his riding making the Home Turn and as to whether there was an opportunity to improve to the outside of STORM RIDER, B Shinn stated that his instructions were to not expose his mount too early in the Home Straight as STAR CLUB has only a short sprint and if he placed his mount under pressure too soon it would not finish the race off well.

He added for this reason he elected to remain racing at the rear of the field behind GUSTOSISIMO which he felt was still travelling reasonably well and would provide him with a horse to follow into the race.

He said when GUSTOSISIMO did not initially respond to his rider's urgings in the early part of the Home Straight, he became held up for clear running behind that runner until near the 300 Metres when he shifted to its inside in an attempt to secure clear running.

He added that at this point TELECOM POWER was giving ground and he was then held up behind that runner before obtaining clear running after the 200 Metres.

Trainer D J Hall confirmed the instructions issued and confirmed that he had specifically asked Jockey Shinn not to improve into the event too soon as the horse had not finished its races off when ridden in this manner previously.

After considering this explanations, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Shinn in the circumstances were reasonable, however, the Stewards advised that with the benefit of hindsight the better option would have been to shift to the outside of STORM RIDER making the Home Turn which would have allowed him to improve into the race in the early part of the Home Straight.

Horse No 8 FULL CREDIT (J185) L Hewitson Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 9 MASSIVE ACTION (E445) H T Mo Near the 200 Metres was steadied away from PHOENIX LIGHT (A Atzeni) which shifted out to improve.

A Atzeni will be reprimanded.

Horse No 11 TELECOM POWER (J332) B Thompson Shifted out at the start and was bumped.

Horse No 12 BULB EMPEROR (J241) E C W Wong Near the 900 Metres blundered when being steadied away from MASSIVE ACTION which shifted out slightly.

Near the 700 Metres was steadied away from MASSIVE ACTION.

Horse No 13 PHOENIX LIGHT (G192) A Atzeni Sent for sampling post-race.

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GENERAL:

1.

After the running of Race 1, the track classification was officially changed from "Good to Yielding" to "Yielding" This change in the opinion of the Stewards should be recorded as being retrospective.

As a consequence of this, the official results will show Race 1 being run on a track rated "Yielding"

2.

Races 7 - 10 were each put back 5 minutes.

SUMMARY:

1.

Fines Race 1 Apprentice E C W Wong (INVINCIBLE MISSILE): $2,000 for failing to present himself in the Parade Ring by the required time Race 5 K C Leung (VICTOR THE WINNER): $40,000 for a breach of Rule 100(2)

2.

Reprimands Race 3 B Thompson (VERBIER) for shifting in near the 250 Metres Race 10 A Atzeni (PHOENIX LIGHT) for shifting out near the 200 Metres

3.

Warnings Race 5 A Atzeni (LUCKY WITH YOU) for shifting in near the 900 Metres Race 6 K Teetan (TOP GUN) for shifting in leaving the 150 Metres Race 8 T Marquand (DUBAI HONOUR) for shifting in near the 1400 Metres J McDonald (ROMANTIC WARRIOR) for shifting in near the 1400 Metres

4.

Protest/Objection Race 6

5.

Bleeder Race 9 LUCKY ENCOUNTER

6.

Stalls Test Race 3 GLORY ELITE

7.

Barrier Trials Race 4 DREAM PURSUER (disappointing performance) MASTER STROKE (unacceptable performance) Race 8 SWORD POINT (unacceptable performance) Race 9 LUCKY ENCOUNTER (bleeder)

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1 REACH GOAL Race 4 DREAM PURSUER MASTER STROKE Race 8 SWORD POINT Race 9 LUCKY ENCOUNTER MIGHTY STRIDE

9.

Rolling Arrangement Rolling after Race 6 was cancelled due to weather condition.