Recap by phillip woo

In a messy race, early favourite The Boom Box was three and four wide in midfield before surging to the lead 100m out and just scrambling in for a fifth win from 22 starts. He was able to repeat a third-up success over the Valley 1,650m. Dazzling Fit ran on nicely down the outside to finish a close second after getting shuffled back to last 500m out. He is a winner waiting to happen with two seconds and a troubled ninth from three starts this term. Win Method came from last early on and with one wider out on straightening to snatch third. It was a return to form second up this term. Prestige Good succumbed late for fourth after rushing forward to lead three deep 650m out from gate nine. It was a good run in defeat.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine : (156) - ZHUHAI HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Meters

Horse No 1 DAZZLING FIT (K298) C L Chau Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 2 PRESTIGE GOOD (K131) H Y Yuen When questioned Apprentice H Y Yuen stated that her instructions were to obtain a midfield position preferably with cover.

She said after commencing well she was caught wide in the early stages to the outside of DAZZLING FIT.

She said as the field approached the 1400 Metres her mount commenced to race keenly and as a result she was unable to restrain and obtain a position with cover.

She added when TURIN CHAMPIONS shifted to a one-off position near the 1100 Metres PRESTIGE GOOD was left racing without cover and as a result continued to race keenly and improved forward despite her efforts to restrain.

When questioned if there was an opportunity to allow her mount to stride forward approaching the 1000 Metres to avoid racing wide and to not continue to have to restrain her mount Apprentice Yuen stated that having regard to her instructions which included that she was to obtain cover and not lead, she elected to remain racing wide and without cover until near the 700 Metres.

She said as she approached the 700 Metres and her mount continued to race keenly, she then allowed PRESTIGE GOOD to stride forward but then was unable to cross TURIN CHAMPIONS and SAMARKAND, resulting in PRESTIGE GOOD being obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

After considering her explanation and taking into account her instructions the Stewards advised Apprentice Yuen that, in their opinion, she would have been better suited by allowing her mount to stride forward near the 1000 Metres and attempt to lead to avoid covering additional ground.

Horse No 3 FAMILY JEWEL (J390) J Orman Jumped awkwardly and lost ground.

Near the 1000 Metres was steadied to avoid BLOSSOMY when racing keenly.

J Orman advised that his mount raced too keenly in the middle stages and finished the race off satisfactorily when under pressure in the Home Straight.

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

Horse No 4 FLYING FORTRESS (J445) B Avdulla B Avdulla reported that his mount raced keenly in the early stages.

He said when PRESTIGE GOOD improved to his outside near the 1000 Metres FLYING FORTRESS took charge and as a result blundered badly when it struck the heels of TURIN CHAMPIONS.

He added that after striking heels near the 1000 Metres, his mount continued to race keenly throughout the middle stages and as a result was unable to finish the race off in the Home Straight.

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

The performance of FLYING FORTRESS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, FLYING FORTRESS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Horse No 6 THE BOOM BOX (K076) C Y Ho Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 7 TITANCK (L299) K Teetan In the early stages raced keenly and for some distance near the 1400 Metres was steadied to avoid FLYING FORTRESS.

Near the 1000 Metres was steadied and shifted to the outside of FLYING FORTRESS.

Horse No 11 MASTER LUCKY (K582) A Badel A Badel stated that the only explanation he could offer for the horse's poor performance was that it was reluctant to race inside other horses.

Trainer J Size advised that the horse had pleased him leading into the race.

He said MASTER LUCKY has previously had a tendency to be reluctant to race inside other horses which may give its riders the impression that there is something amiss.

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

The performance of MASTER LUCKY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, MASTER LUCKY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Horse No 12 WIN METHOD (K406) M F Poon Trainer C S Shum advised prior to the running of the race that he had instructed M F Poon to ride the horse in a conservative manner in the early stages.

He said he issued those instructions as WIN METHOD did not finish its race off at its most recent start when it led.

From the 900 Metres commenced a forward move and was obliged to race very wide and without cover thereafter.

Horse No 5 MEANINGFUL DRAGON (H453) K C Leung Became fractious and fell whilst being saddled and was withdrawn by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice.

Before being allowed to race again, MEANINGFUL DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.