Recap by phillip woo

Lightning Pegasus enjoyed a lovely run in the box seat from gate one, advanced to the front 200m out and kept finding to open his win account with a step up in distance at only his fourth outing. Late-plunged favourite, Sparkling Sword easily cleared to lead from gate 10, straightened a half-length on top and went down fighting. Rising Power made his run second from the rear, dropped to the fence at the 150m when failing to get a run three from the right upon straightening and again had to duck-and-weave with only 60m to finish strongly for third. He was a good horse beaten. Mazandaran settled one-out, one-back, straightened four deep and kept plugging away to just get the whisker in for a Quartet spot. Early favourite Great Toplight settle one off the fence in midfield, swung the final bend with two wider out and ran on steadily to make it close for fourth. Mighty Wongchoy only held his ground over the final 100m following a pace-stalking run to just miss a pay cheque. Island Flyer made a minor bid from beyond midfield. Plain Blue Banner never let down after travelling behind midfield and one off the rails.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (704)-TSUI MAN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Metres

RISING POWER, which began awkwardly, was crowded for room on jumping between PLAIN BLUE BANNER and COOL BEAN which shifted out after being bumped by ISLAND FLYER which also began awkwardly and shifted ground.

From a wide barrier, MEDIC MASTER was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, GREAT TOPLIGHT got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of MAZANDARAN.

In the middle stages, SPARKLING SWORD raced with its head on the side.

In the Straight, GREAT TOPLIGHT got its head on the side and lay in under pressure.

When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he had been asked to ride COOL BEAN in the first three if possible.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount aggressively in the early stages in an attempt to cross MAZANDARAN to his inside.

He said approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion when being crossed by SPARKLING SWORD, he still believed that COOL BEAN may be able to cross MAZANDARAN, however, MIGHTY WONGCHOY, which was shifting in from outside COOL BEAN, showed more early speed than COOL BEAN at this time and was able to shift in to cross COOL BEAN after passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He said as MIGHTY WONGCHOY had shifted in to a position one horse outside the leader SPARKLING SWORD, it was no longer available for him to clear MAZANDARAN and therefore he steadied his mount in order to take a trailing position behind that horse.

He added however that at this time GREAT TOPLIGHT was able to shift across from a wide draw to establish the position behind MAZANDARAN and this resulted in COOL BEAN being left racing wide and without cover for the remainder of the race.

When questioned, T H So stated that rounding the Home Turn it had been his intention to try and shift to the outside to obtain clear running on RISING POWER.

He said however that at the entrance to the Straight RISING POWER was positioned to the inside of COOL BEAN and because of this he was not able to continue shifting out without having to unnecessarily steady his mount which would have been detrimental to the horse's chances.

He said as there was considerable room more to the inside, he elected immediately to shift in away from the heels of PLAIN BLUE BANNER and obtain clear running.

He said after being shifted in across the heels of initially ISLAND FLYER and then ONE OF A KIND, RISING POWER commenced to finish off the race strongly.

He added passing the 100 Metres he was faced with the option of improving to the inside of LIGHTNING PEGASUS or to the outside of that horse where a run existed between LIGHTNING PEGASUS and SPARKLING SWORD.

He said as the rider of LIGHTNING PEGASUS was using the whip in the left hand, he felt that it may be a better option to pursue the run to the outside of that horse and inside SPARKLING SWORD in the event LIGHTNING PEGASUS shifted in which would impede his running were he attempt to improve to the inside of that horse.

He said near the 50 Metres SPARKLING SWORD shifted in marginally under pressure which resulted in the gap between LIGHTNING PEGASUS and SPARKLING SWORD reducing and for this reason he switched RISING POWER in abruptly away from the heels of LIGHTNING PEGASUS.

He added close to the finishing line RISING POWER then raced tight inside LIGHTNING PEGASUS which shifted in.

As the Stewards were satisfied that at the time that Jockey So elected to commit to the run to the outside of LIGHTNING PEGASUS, it was reasonable for him to have done so given that there was similar room available to both inside and outside LIGHTNING PEGASUS.

As such, no further action was taken.

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

LIGHTNING PEGASUS and SPARKLING SWORD were sent for sampling.