Recap by phillip woo

Verbier covered ground towards the rear but quickened nicely with two wider out to overhaul Falcon Hunter 50m out for a fourth win from 36 starts. He relished a return to the Valley after showing nothing in his first three Sha Tin sprints this term. Early favourite Falcon Hunter found one just too good after shooting to the lead near the 100m following a wide trip from behind midfield. He's a winner waiting to happen with seconds in both starts for his new trainer this term. Punted late Casa Primo ran on nicely for third after peeling widest out 200m out following a patient ride at the rear from gate 11. It was a career-best effort at his first Valley start following a downgrade. Golden Friendship kept on one paced after sitting third in the run from gate four. It was a better effort second up following a downgrade. Smashed to jump favourite, Chill Master was doing his best work late for fifth after making his run five back and one off the fence. Heavily punted Winning Now gradually faded after rushing to the lead 800m out from gate two. Autumn Vibes only plodded when asked for an effort from midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two : (120) - SUCCESS HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Meters

Horse No 1 GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP (K106) Z Purton Near the 950 Metres shifted out and made contact with RUNJEET.

Horse No 2 CASA PRIMO (L201) B Avdulla Jumped only fairly and from a wide barrier was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Near the 250 Metres was eased and shifted to the outside of VERBIER to continue into clear running.

When questioned regarding his riding out of the horse B Avdulla sated that when placed under pressure in the early stages of the Home Straight his mount lay out.

He said for this reason near the 100 Metres he changed his whip through to his left hand in order to correct his mount, however, CASA PRIMO then shifted in which resulted in his level of vigour decreasing for a short distance as he approached the finish of the event.

He added when he was satisfied he was always holding third placing from GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP he continued to encourage his horse to the finish of the race without having to fully test it.

B Avdulla was advised, wherever possible, he should ensure he places the appropriate amount of vigour to his mounts to ensure he does not compromise their placings in the race.

Horse No 3 AUTUMN VIBES (K150) L Ferraris Jumped awkwardly and made contact with the left side of the starting gate.

Near the 450 Metres was steadied when racing tight to the inside of GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP (Z Purton) which was being ridden along to hold its position to the inside of ICONICAL (L Hewitson).

Both Jockeys Purton and Hewitson were advised to exercise more care.

L Ferraris could offer no excuse for his mount's disappointing performance.

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

Horse No 4 FALCON HUNTER (K503) C L Chau Brushed near the 150 Metres.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 5 ALWAYS MY FOLKS (J345) K C Leung Shortly after the start was eased to avoid VERBIER which shifted out slightly.

K C Leung reported that he was instructed to take up a midfield position preferably with cover.

He said when caught wide in the early stages he endeavoured to restrain his mount to obtain cover but ALWAYS MY FOLKS raced too keenly and as a consequence was obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

Horse No 6 VERBIER (J187) J Orman Near the 150 Metres shifted in and made slight contact with FALCON HUNTER.

J Orman stated that from a wide barrier he was instructed to ride the horse in a conservative manner in the early stages.

Trainer C Fownes confirmed the instructions and stated he issued those instructions as VERBIER had not been finishing its races off when racing in a forward position and the horse had raced with success when being ridden more conservatively previously.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 8 NOBLE FANS (K038) A Atzeni Approaching the 200 Metres was steadied when disappointed for clear running between AUTUMN VIBES and ICONICAL, both of which shifted ground slightly.

As a result NOBLE FANS was held up for clear running until near the 150 Metres.

Horse No 9 WINNING NOW (K532) H Y Yuen Jumped only fairly.

Horse No 10 RUNJEET (K276) H Bentley Bumped on the hindquarters on jumping.

Near the 950 Metres was hampered when crowded between ICONICAL and GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP which shifted out after being corrected by its rider Z Purton.

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

Horse No 11 CHILL MASTER (J319) C Y Ho Jumped awkwardly, shifted out and made contact with RUNJEET and as a result became unbalanced.

Held up for clear running making the Home Turn.

Over the final 50 Metres lay in when racing tight to the inside of GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 12 HAPPY BUDDIES (K344) M F Poon M F Poon could offer no excuse for his mount's disappointing performance.

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