Recap by phillip woo

Speed Dragon drifted back to last from a midfield sit on the rail and after being held up for a run in the middle of the track until 200m out, he stormed home between horses to win under hand riding. It was a third win over course and distance and a first Group success. The well backed joint favourite Huge Wave settled one out with cover in sixth before taking off on the bend and after taking the lead briefly 150m out, he was caught 50m from home. It was another game run. Brown-lamped joint favourite Helene Feeling was three wide with cover in midfield and after being forced widest of all in the straight, he stuck on well for third. He remains in good heart after two course wins from his last three. Encountered raced keenly one out with cover in fourth and after coming under pressure 700m out, he stuck to his task gamely to be run out of third late. He might be on his mark. Winning Wing was a detached last early before making a mid-race move to sit third and after briefly threatening 200m out, he plodded on for fifth. Hong Lok Golf was three wide with cover behind midfield and kept on at once pace into sixth.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven : (351) - THE JANUARY CUP (HANDICAP) - Class G3 - 1800Meters

Horse No 1 BEAUTY JOY (E058) B Avdulla From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Leaving the 1200 Metres got its head up when being steadied to avoid MOMENTS IN TIME.

BEAUTY JOY then raced keenly for some distance thereafter.

Horse No 2 CHANCHENG GLORY (H212) M Guyon Near the 550 Metres was bumped by ENCOUNTERED which shifted in slightly.

M Guyon pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 100(2) in that he failed to ride CHANCHENG GLORY, 7th placegetter, out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards.

For this breach of the Rule, M Guyon was fined the sum of $25,000.

Horse No 3 MOMENTS IN TIME (H474) Z Purton Passing the 1300 Metres, when racing keenly, shifted out slightly and made contact with HELENE FEELING.

In the middle stages raced keenly and for some distance after the 1200 Metres was steadied away from SPEED DRAGON.

Z Purton stated that from a wide barrier he was instructed to ride the horse in a conservative manner in the early stages.

He added that MOMENTS IN TIME raced keenly during the event and was left without a finishing effort in the Home Straight.

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

Horse No 4 HELENE FEELING (H215) H Bowman Bumped leaving the 1300 Metres.

Near the 1000 Metres commenced to race keenly and was steadied away from HONG LOK GOLF.

Horse No 5 ENSUED (H452) A Atzeni Bounded on jumping and lost ground.

Horse No 6 HONG LOK GOLF (J517) H Bentley H Bentley stated that his mount travelled satisfactorily throughout the event and, in his view, whilst it had won its only race start at Happy Valley, it did not appreciate racing around the tight circuit.

Trainer W Y So stated that the horse had pleased him leading into the race and whilst a veterinary inspection found the horse to be lame in its left front leg he concurred with the view of Jockey Bentley that the horse was not entirely comfortable racing at Happy Valley.

A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg.

Before being allowed to race again, HONG LOK GOLF will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Horse No 7 ENCOUNTERED (G236) K Teetan Bumped near the 550 Metres.

Horse No 8 SPEED DRAGON (H380) L Hewitson Jumped only fairly.

Between the 250 Metres and the 200 Metres was held up for clear running.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 9 KAHOLO ANGEL (H216) E C W Wong A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Horse No 10 HUGE WAVE (J197) A Badel Held up for clear running between the 450 Metres and the 350 Metres.

A Badel, who weighed in at 117 lbs, was fined the sum of $5,000 for returning to scale 2 lbs overweight.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 11 AWESOME FLUKE (J050) M Chadwick Bumped on jumping.

Leaving the 1500 Metres was steadied to avoid KAHOLO ANGEL (Apprentice E C W Wong) which shifted in when not clear.

Apprentice Wong was severely reprimanded.

Horse No 12 WINNING WING (K129) H T Mo When questioned H T Mo stated that whilst he expected the horse to settle back in the field he was instructed to endeavour to maintain a position closer than at its previous race starts and if the pace of the event was slow he was given the option of making a mid-race move on the horse.

He said in the early stages he was able to obtain a position behind BEAUTY JOY.

He said near the 1200 Metres WINNING WING improved to the outside of BEAUTY JOY where it followed HELENE FEELING.

He added as he was of the opinion the pace of the event was slow because WINNING WING was positioned closer than at its previous race starts he felt there was an opportunity to comply with the other aspect of his instructions to make a mid-race move near the 1100 Metres.

He further stated that as a consequence he commenced a forward move, however, WINNING WING was obliged to race wide and without cover thereafter when it was unable to continue to cross the leaders.

Trainer K W Lui confirmed the instructions issued, however, expressed dissatisfaction with Jockey Mo's decision to go forward near the 1100 Metres.

After considering the evidence including the sectional times of the event and the manner in which WINNING WING was racing at the 1100 Metres the Stewards advised Jockey Mo that he had made an error of judgement in going forward at the 1100 Metres, however, the Stewards in the circumstances elected not to issue a charge under the Rules and advised Jockey Mo that the ride lacked the necessary judgement expected of a jockey riding in this jurisdiction.