Recap by phillip woo

It was a race run to suit the sweepers. Early favourite Champion Supreme never went around a horse travelling midfield to take control 350m for a maiden win at his seventh start for pick-up rider Joao Moreira. While Champion Supreme took the short route home, Circuit Three came on widest out travelling last after his usual slow start to grab second 150m out. He needs to work out his attitude at the start but is a winner waiting to happen. Post-time favourite London Hall closed well from behind midfield to fill a placing. He's coming to hand in his past two starts and was suited by the rise in trip. Flash Famous stayed on reasonably well after a deep run behind midfield to just miss a place spot. He's not genuine. High Rev gradually faded after pressing forward after a deep run in midfield to sit outside the leader Chater Thunder at the 850m. He's been in the thick of the finish in four of his six starts over a range of distances but is still a work in progress.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (542) - MIRS BAY HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1800Meters

Trainer J Moore was fined $2,000 for a declaration error in that he wrongly declared N Callan as the rider of CHAMPION SUPREME when A Sanna had been engaged to ride that horse.

CIRCUIT THREE was slow to begin.

Near the 1400 Metres, HIGH REV was steadied away from the heels of BRING IT ON (N Callan) which, after shifting in marginally, was then steadied away from the heels of HAY RUN which was being steadied.

In this incident, HIGH REV became unbalanced after clipping the heels of BRING IT ON.

N Callan was advised that whilst there were some circumstances to this incident, nonetheless he had initially shifted in and crowded the room of HIGH REV and accordingly was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care in future.

HIGH REV began only fairly and was then ridden along to obtain a more forward position.

HIGH REV was left racing wide and without cover approaching the 1200 Metres and was consequently allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead near the 900 Metres.

Passing the 500 Metres, FLASH FAMOUS was taken wider by BRING IT ON which shifted to the outside of HAY RUN.

Rounding the Home Turn, CHATER THUNDER lay out and then after this came under pressure and gave ground.

When questioned regarding his riding of PERFECT TO PLAY, Apprentice K H Chan stated that as PERFECT TO PLAY was stepping up in distance today to 1800 Metres, he was asked to have the horse racing where it was comfortable and not to ride his mount along as the connections did not want it to over-race up in trip.

He said in accordance with his instructions he did not ride his mount along in the early stages and passing the 1700 Metres was racing outside LONDON HALL which had been ridden along to maintain its position inside PERFECT TO PLAY.

He said after the 1700 Metres PERFECT TO PLAY commenced to travel keenly, got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of LONDON HALL which resulted in PERFECT TO PLAY having to be steadied away from the heels of that horse passing the 1600 Metres.

He said near the 1400 Metres he shifted PERFECT TO PLAY to race on the rail and whilst there was an opportunity to improve its position for some distance after the 1400 Metres due to LONDON HALL remaining racing one horse away from the rail, he was reluctant to ride his mount along to improve inside LONDON HALL given the instructions were he was not to have the horse over-racing.

He added this resulted in LONDON HALL being able to shift in in front of PERFECT TO PLAY approaching the 800 Metres.

Apprentice Chan was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in not allowing his mount to improve its position between the 1400 Metres and the 900 Metres inside LONDON HALL so as to be following the eventual winner CHAMPION SUPREME.

He was told to ensure that he obtains more advantageous positions wherever circumstances permit.

In reaching this decision, the Stewards were mindful that this was Apprentice Chan's first day of race riding in Hong Kong.

After the race, H T Mo stated that he was instructed to ride HAY RUN behind the speed from the wide barrier.

He said he was asked to be more forward on HAY RUN as there was a lack of recognized speed in the race.

He said because of the circumstances of the race he had to make some use of his mount to cross BRING IT ON in the early stages and then raced outside the lead before obtaining cover behind HIGH REV near the 900 Metres.

A veterinary inspection of HAY RUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

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

LONDON HALL, CHAMPION SUPREME and CIRCUIT THREE were sent for sampling.