Recap by phillip woo

Winners St Paul's let down nicely after angling into the open 300m out following a rail's run behind midfield to get up 150m out for a return to the winner's circle following a stable change. He was suited by the pace but was well handicapped off a past success and can score another. Golden Cannon closed well after a midfield run along the fence to grab second in deep stretch. He settled much better with blinkers on and might be able to score shortly. In a change of tactics. Gainfuljet came on well travelling worse than midfield from gate 14 to grab a placing in the dying stages following a move to cheek pieces. Favourite Real Deal's condition gave way late after hitting the front 150m out following a dream run. It was a much better run at only his eighth run following a downgrade and he should come on for this run. Starry Starlies wasn't too far off the placings after having to duck and weave about for a clear run in the drive after travelling second from the rear.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (94) - SHA TSUI HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Meters

WINNINGLI shifted in at the start and bumped TREASURE AND GOLD.

RAINBOW GOLD was crowded for room on jumping between STARRY STARLIES and ENCHANTED FEELING which shifted out.

From wide barriers, BORN TO RACE and HAPPY CENTURY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, REAL DEAL raced tight inside ENCHANTED FEELING which shifted in.

Passing the 1000 Metres, WINNINGLI got its head on the side and shifted in away from HAPPY SOUND, despite the efforts of its rider, and bumped ENCHANTED FEELING, causing that horse to be taken in and resulting in REAL DEAL and GOLDEN CANNON being crowded for room.

Near the 900 Metres, REAL DEAL and ENCHANTED FEELING bumped.

Passing the 400 Metres, REAL DEAL was brushed by WINNINGLI which shifted in.

Also passing the 400 Metres, ENCHANTED FEELING and GOLDEN CANNON bumped.

Approaching the 300 Metres, ENCHANTED FEELING, which was giving ground abruptly, was steadied away from the heels of WINNER ST PAUL'S (M L Yeung) which shifted out when not quite clear.

M L Yeung was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances.

BORN TO RACE (Apprentice M F Poon) had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 300 Metres.

Then approaching the 150 Metres, Apprentice Poon dropped his right rein.

For the majority of the race, WINNINGLI travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, N Rawiller (WINNING VIBE) stated that he was asked to ride the horse in a position behind midfield as it was dropping back in distance from 1400 Metres to 1200 Metres.

He said WINNING VIBE was more relaxed when proceeding to the barriers than it was at its last start when ridden by him and was successful.

He said WINNING VIBE began awkwardly and shifted out and then, despite being ridden along in the early stages, became detached from the field.

He said he rode his mount hard until near the 1100 Metres at which time he was required to ride the horse more aggressively including using the whip on the horse as WINNING VIBE was continuing to lose ground.

He said he continued to ride WINNING VIBE along until approaching the 1000 Metres and by this time the horse was some distance behind the second last horse.

He said he did give consideration to retiring WINNING VIBE out of the race at this time, however, as he assessed that there was nothing obviously amiss with the horse, for this reason he allowed WINNING VIBE to continue in the race.

He added he slapped the horse down the shoulder with the whip passing the 1000 Metres and continued to ride it along hands and heels, however, WINNING VIBE showed no interest in racing until near the 600 Metres at which point the horse commenced to travel with more purpose.

He said when this happened he again commenced to ride WINNING VIBE vigorously with the whip and more so rounding the Home Turn albeit at this time the horse was still a significant distance behind the second last horse.

He said although WINNING VIBE had no chance of placing in the race, he felt obliged to continue to ride the horse along in the Straight as it was showing more interest in racing and again he could detect nothing amiss with the horse's action.

He said whilst the sectional times of the last 400 Metres were slow which enhanced the manner in which WINNING VIBE closed off the race, nonetheless the horse did make up a significant amount of ground and finished off the race well.

Trainer W Y So stated that he was comfortable to have the horse come back in distance to 1200 Metres today as it raced well towards the end of last season over this distance at Happy Valley.

He said since its last start success the horse had pleased him and whilst the distance of today's race may not have entirely suited the horse, he expected WINNING VIBE to run well and was unable to explain the horse's racing manners in the early and middle stages.

He added after viewing the videos, he was completely satisfied that Jockey Rawiller had made every attempt to have the horse race with the field, however, for whatever reason, WINNING VIBE would not stretch out in the early and middle stages.

Mr So was advised that the Stewards would continue to assess the performance of WINNING VIBE in today's race.

He was further advised that prior to being permitted to race again, WINNING VIBE will be required to barrier trial competitively and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

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

A veterinary inspection of HAPPY SOUND immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a small out to the outside of the right front fetlock.

A veterinary inspection of ENCHANTED FEELING immediately following the horse found that horse to have bled from both nostrils.

REAL DEAL, WINNER ST PAUL'S and GOLDEN CANNON were sent for sampling.