Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Friends Of Yan Oi enjoyed the box-seat run after jumping alertly, stayed to the inside upon straightening, hit the front 200m out and kept on gamely to open his win account at his 26th start. He has improved under his new trainer Benno Yung this term. Ray Of Gold settled fourth from the rear and two off the rails with cover, swung the final bend with one wider out and rattled home to snatch second close to home. Novel Start went forward to lead from gate six, turned the final bend a length on top and grudgingly gave way late. Plunged late, Flying Keeper made his run third from the rear along the rails, came one off upon straightening and finished up reasonably well to just miss a placing. All Times Lucky settled midfield along the fence, rallied five deep upon straightening and came up flat in the final 100m with every chance. Shanghai Pioneer was posted deep with cover in midfield from a wide gate, rounded the final bend with three wider out and kept plugging away without menacing. Serendipity drove forward from a wide alley to settle second in the run at the 1,000m, lugged in under pressure after cornering three-to-four deep and was empty 150m out. Telecom Chief cornered five deep, copped a check between runners at the 250m and found little thereafter.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (307)-PATERSON HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Metres

After being presented in the Parade Ring, POSITIVE ENERGY was subsequently removed from the yard to ensure that the horse's plates were properly secured.

NOVEL START blundered at the start.

INFINITE COURAGE was slow to begin and shortly after the start was steadied when crowded for room between TELECOM CHIEF which shifted out after bumping CHINA GOOD and SHANGHAI PIONEER which got its head on the side and shifted in after racing tight inside SERENDIPITY.

Approaching and passing the 600 Metres, POSITIVE ENERGY got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHINA GOOD.

B Prebble (GRACYTOM) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of TELECOM CHIEF, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled after racing tight to the outside of ALL TIMES LUCKY.

When TELECOM CHIEF was checked, CHINA GOOD, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence.

B Prebble was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 3 February 2014 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays).

The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 19 January 2014.

After the 100 Metres, POSITIVE ENERGY, which was racing with its head on the side, was bumped by CHINA GOOD which shifted out.

Over the concluding stages, RAY OF GOLD shifted in abruptly.

Throughout the race, GRACYTOM travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, N Pinna stated that he had been instructed to lead on POSITIVE ENERGY if possible.

He said as the start was effected, POSITIVE ENERGY lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin which resulted in it having to race at the rear of the field.

FRIENDS OF YAN OI and RAY OF GOLD were sent for sampling.