Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Happy Daily just held off the fast-finishing debutant Leather Vanguard after working to the lead 30m out following a wide with cover run in midfield. The win was forthcoming after filling the frame in his past three of four starts this term. Leather Vanguard was wayward under pressure but still finished nicely to nearly cause an upset after peeling off the fence from behind midfield for a clear run 350m out. He has a nice future. Running Glory fought on very well to finish a close third after a tough run chasing the speed wide without cover from a tricky gate. He was able to build on an unlucky run on debut. Vukan grudgingly gave way after sharing the lead along the inside for the most part with Good Buddy. He's naturally returning to form in his three starts this term. Good Buddy knocked up passing the 100m in a pace-pressing role from a wide draw. The change in tactics after rallying for wins in back-to-back runs backfired. Young Victory came up flat over the last 150m after chasing the speed one off the fence from a wide draw. He'll get his chance next start in Class Five. Fantastic Show ran on without menacing down the outside after making his run as usual at the back of the pace.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (265) - LUKFOOK JEWELLERY GOLDSTYLE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

ENCHANTING START was withdrawn on 17.12.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen right front leg) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter THE MULTIPLIER (C L Chau).

Before being allowed to race again, ENCHANTING START will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

LOYAL AMBITION began only fairly.

THE MULTIPLIER lifted its front feet off the ground on jumping and then was bumped shortly after the start by HAPPY DAILY which shifted out.

SPLENDID LIVING and FANTASTIC SHOW were crowded for room on jumping between YOUNG VICTORY which was racing tight inside GOOD BUDDY and RUNNING GLORY which shifted out.

After this, SPLENDID LIVING was shifted across behind runners.

From a wide barrier, ISLAND SURPRISE was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

After travelling a short distance ASIAN ONE shifted in and bumped LEATHER VANGUARD.

After initially being ridden along from the outside barrier, FORTUNE MASTER was steadied passing the 1300 Metres to obtain cover after it failed to muster speed.

GOLDEN FOUR got its head on the side and made the turn near the 900 Metres awkwardly.

Approaching the 800 Metres, RUNNING GLORY was left racing wide and without cover.

Passing the 800 Metres, LEATHER VANGUARD, which was having its first race start today, became unbalanced when reluctant to maintain its position inside THE MULTIPLIER which at this time was awkwardly placed behind YOUNG VICTORY.

When LEATHER VANGUARD became unbalanced, it lost ground, resulting in LOYAL AMBITION being inconvenienced in consequence.

In the early part of the Straight, when attempting to improve to the outside of SPLENDID LIVING, FORTUNE MASTER was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse as SPLENDID LIVING shifted out under pressure.

YOUNG VICTORY had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight.

LEATHER VANGUARD was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight.

Then after being shifted to the outside of HAPPY DAILY after the 300 Metres to obtain clear running, LEATHER VANGUARD got its head on the side, lay out and proved difficult to ride.

Approaching the 300 Metres, HAPPY DAILY was struck across the nose by the whip of J Moreira (RUNNING GLORY).

Passing the 200 Metres, GOLDEN FOUR was shifted to the inside of THE MULTIPLIER which got its head on the side and lay out away from LEATHER VANGUARD.

When questioned, A Hamelin stated that he was asked to ride GOOD BUDDY in about a midfield position from barrier 12 if possible.

He said GOOD BUDDY began very well and obtained a forward position in the early stages without him riding the horse along at any stage.

He said when there were a considerable number of horses which were drawn inside GOOD BUDDY which had taken up a forward position and given that YOUNG VICTORY, which was drawn immediately inside GOOD BUDDY, was being ridden to maintain its position inside his mount, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of GOOD BUDDY if he were to try and restrain his mount to have it race in midfield as instructed.

He said he believed he would have had to excessively restrain GOOD BUDDY at this time and given that YOUNG VICTORY was maintaining its position, he would have had to come back a number of horses to be in a position to shift across behind that runner.

He said he therefore decided to allow GOOD BUDDY to continue improving its position to race outside the lead in the middle stages.

He said at no stage of today's race did he have to ride his mount along to obtain the position outside the lead after the 900 Metres.

He said his mount travelled well in the middle stages and responded to his riding in the early part of the Straight.

He added it was not until over the concluding stages that GOOD BUDDY's run finished and he was of the opinion that he had made the correct decision in allowing the horse to obtain a more forward position than had been anticipated given the circumstances of the race in the early stages.

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

HAPPY DAILY and LEATHER VANGUARD were sent for sampling.