Recap by phillip woo

Blazing Beam settled one off just forward of midfield, peeled out three wide at the 450m and surged to the lead at the 100m en route to an upset win. It was a surprise after finishing no better than eighth on seven of his eight starts. Concorde Star settled midfield from gate 12 and ran on down the outside in the straight for second. He proved an upset win last start was no fluke. Happy Boys charged home from second last to finish next best. It was another honest effort. Oriental Surprise settled three back on the fence from gate one and kept on well for fourth. He can win in this grade soon. Brilliant Fire sat in the box seat and hit the front early in the straight but was swamped late to finish a solid fifth. Second favourite Nebraskan was trapped three wide from barrier 11 before finally getting outside the lead at the 600m and challenging for the front in the straight. It was a brave performance to run sixth. Backed late to start favourite, Lucky Generations ran on from fourth last but was badly blocked for clear running over the final 100m to finish seventh. He should have finished closer.

Racing Incident Report

Race One : (345) - METEORITES HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Meters

Horse No 1 NEBRASKAN (J304) D B McMonagle Bumped at the start.

Horse No 2 MULTIDUTCH (K171) Y L Chung Kicked a rail in the Parade Ring, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race.

After travelling a short distance blundered and then was bumped by BLAZING BEAM.

Y L Chung stated that when his mount jumped well he was able to hold a more forward position than what had been anticipated.

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

Horse No 3 BLAZING BEAM (K103) R Kingscote After travelling a short distance was hampered when crowded between MULTIDUTCH and BRILLIANT FIRE which shifted out.

When placed under pressure over the final 200 Metres lay in and proved difficult to ride out.

When questioned regarding the improved performance Trainer K H Ting stated that whilst the horse had performed well at its first race start in Hong Kong it had disappointed him subsequently.

He said BLAZING BEAM continued to work to his satisfaction in the stable and the only explanation he could offer for the improved showing was that it was assisted by a favourable barrier draw and holding a handy position as a consequence during the running of the race.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 4 HAPPY BOYS (J545) Z Purton Jumped only fairly.

Leaving the 1100 Metres got its head up when being steadied to obtain a position with cover.

Horse No 5 PODIUM (H173) C L Chau Jumped only fairly.

Over the final 50 Metres was held up behind BRILLIANT FIRE and could not be ridden out to the finish of the race.

Horse No 6 CONCORDE STAR (J344) J Orman On jumping shifted in and made contact with NEBRASKAN.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 7 CHILL MASTER (J319) C Y Ho Jumped only fairly.

When questioned C Y Ho reported that on entering the Home Straight he endeavoured to improve between MULTIDUTCH and ORIENTAL SURPRISE.

He said when ORIENTAL SURPRISE shifted out and MULTIDUTCH shifted in slightly he was checked when disappointed for this run which resulted in CHILL MASTER getting its head up and becoming unbalanced.

He added that after shifting to the inside of ORIENTAL SURPRISE, CHILL MASTER was held up for clear running over the final 100 Metres.

Horse No 8 ORIENTAL SURPRISE (K028) B Avdulla Leaving the 100 Metres was eased to avoid BLAZING BEAM, resulting in ORIENTAL SURPRISE shifting out and making slight contact with LUCKY GENERATIONS.

Horse No 9 BRILLIANT FIRE (J441) A Atzeni After travelling a short distance shifted out and bumped BLAZING BEAM.

Horse No 10 LUCKY GENERATIONS (J338) H Bowman Over the final 150 Metres raced tight to the inside of CONCORDE STAR which shifted in.

Passing the 100 Metres LUCKY GENERATIONS was steadied when crowded between ORIENTAL SURPRISE which shifted out when being eased to avoid BLAZING BEAM and CONCORDE STAR (J Orman) which continued to shift in.

J Orman was advised to exercise more care.

As a consequence LUCKY GENERATIONS could not be ridden out to the finish of the race.

When questioned H Bowman stated that his instructions were to hold an on-pace position from his favourable barrier.

He said whilst LUCKY GENERATIONS jumped well tonight, with the early pace of the event being run inside of standard time, he was unable to hold a more forward position in the early stages and as a consequence settled further back in the field than he had intended.

He said throughout the middle stages of the event he followed CONCORDE STAR and from the 600 Metres his mount commenced to race keenly and as a result was positioned close to that runner.

He added that after the 500 Metres when CONCORDE STAR shifted out to improve his mount became positioned to the inside of that horse which resulted in him not being able to shift out making the Home Turn which was his preferred option.

He said as a consequence he elected to improve to the inside of CONCORDE STAR with a view to following BLAZING BEAM but in the Home Straight he was unable to fully test his mount when held up behind BLAZING BEAM and racing tight between ORIENTAL SURPRISE and CONCORDE STAR.

Trainer C Fownes confirmed the instructions issued.

After considering the evidence the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Bowman were reasonable in the circumstances.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 11 COLONEL (D090) K Teetan A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils.

Before being allowed to race again, COLONEL will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Horse No 12 EVER SMART (J179) H T Mo In the early and middle stages raced keenly and near the 900 Metres and again near the 600 Metres was steadied away from HAPPY BOYS.

When questioned H T Mo stated that as the start was effected his mount stood flat-footed and despite his efforts to have the horse jump with the field it did not respond and as a consequence lost ground at the start.

Before being allowed to race again, EVER SMART will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test.

When questioned regarding his riding in the Home Straight H T Mo stated that when being ridden out EVER SMART lay in and as a result proved difficult to ride.

He added as a consequence he was obliged to place pressure to his left rein at various stages in the Home Straight to ensure that his mount maintained its position with clear running.

Jockey Mo was advised he must ensure that, under the provisions of Rule 103, he reports any occurrence in a race which may have affected the running of his horse.