Recap by phillip woo

Odds-on favourite Stock Legend showed a good turn of foot to win going away 200m out after a handy run on the fence to make it back-to-back wins from three starts for his new trainer this season. He's got room to head higher. Prance Dragon ran on well to finish a clear-cut second after settling one off in midfield following a sluggish break. He can produce an odd good run over this Valley trip. Happily Friends just out-dashed Yee Cheong Warrior for third after a patient ride fourth last from a wide gate. He hasn't been too far off the finish in his past four starts over this course. Yee Cheong Warrior finished well to nearly place after making his run third from the rear. He relished a return to the Valley after misfiring twice at Sha Tin. Amazing Boy let down really well in the final 100m straightening two from the right after settling one from the back from an awkward gate. It was a good effort on debut. Well-backed late, Colonel was gone at the 150m tracking the leader Garlic Hero. The wide draw and big weight took its toll after a last-start win.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (360) - SAM CHUK HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

AUGUST MOON and PRANCE DRAGON began awkwardly.

From wide barriers, AMAZING BOY and AFTER ME were shifted across behind runners soon after the start.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, COLONEL lay in and bumped GARLIC HERO.

When being steadied to obtain cover behind OURGOLDENRULES approaching the 900 Metres, HAPPILY FRIENDS got its head up and raced ungenerously.

After leaving the 600 Metres, PRANCE DRAGON commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when racing tight inside OURGOLDENRULES which raced wide and without cover from the 600 Metres.

M F Poon (GARLIC HERO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 200 Metres he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount from shifting in when insufficiently clear of MAGIC SUPREME which had improved to be racing inside the heels of GARLIC HERO, resulting in that horse being checked.

M F Poon was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 6 February 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 11 February 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Poon's good race riding record.

After improving into a narrow run between GARLIC HERO and COLONEL passing the 150 Metres, ORIENTAL AMIGO was struck across the nose by the whip of Z Purton (COLONEL).

Approaching the 100 Metres, AFTER ME raced in restricted room between AMAZING BOY and YEE CHEONG WARRIOR which shifted to the outside of the heels of HAPPILY FRIENDS to continue improving.

Over the concluding stages, YEE CHEONG WARRIOR continued to shift out under pressure, resulting in AFTER ME being further inconvenienced.

At the 100 Metres, AMAZING BOY shifted out and inconvenienced AUGUST MOON.

After the race, Z Purton reported that with the top weight and from the outside barrier, COLONEL was forced to do too much work in the early stages to take up a forward position.

He said as a consequence COLONEL stayed on only fairly until the 100 Metres and then weakened noticeably over the latter stages.

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

The performance of COLONEL, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable.

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

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

STOCK LEGEND and PRANCE DRAGON were sent for sampling.