Recap by phillip woo

Punted late, King Eccellente responded nicely when asked for an effort to overhaul Savvy Chic in the final few metres after his prominent run one off the fence. It was clearly his best run to date following his move to cheek pieces. Favourite Savvy Chic finished nicely along the inside to just miss after chasing the speed on the fence. It was another fine effort carrying the top weight following his second-up win. Hero Star turned the final bend comfortably in front by two lengths but again knocked up very late. He is honest but is always vulnerable in the last 50m. D Star ran on nicely for fourth from behind midfield. It was an encouraging debut effort. Well-backed late, Gallant Hero rallied to finish next best after settling behind midfield on the rail after his tardy start. It was a typical performance. Lyrical Motion ran on without menacing after fading back from the widest draw. He is not far off a bottom. Harmony N Home left things too late after being ridden near last from his tricky gate. He prefers a faster track. Our Class Act weakened after his wide run without cover in midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (247) - THE HONG KONG GOLF CLUB CENTENARY CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 4 - 1200Meters

BRILLIANT PIONEER, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 13.12.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen right front tendon).

Before being allowed to race again, BRILLIANT PIONEER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

As the start was effected, SUPER JOY became fractious and lunged at the front gates, resulting in the horse beginning awkwardly.

GALLANT HERO shifted in at the start and hampered D STAR and ISLAND SHINE.

HARMONY N HOME shifted out on jumping and bumped OUR CLASS ACT.

From the outside barrier, LYRICAL MOTION was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

YOUNG HORIZON got its head up on jumping and then when being steadied to obtain cover from a wide barrier in the early stages proved very difficult to settle.

YOUNG HORIZON then continued to race ungenerously and making the turn near the 1050 Metres was shifted out away from the heels of HARMONY N HOME.

YOUNG HORIZON then made the turn after the 1000 Metres awkwardly and continued to race keenly for some distance approaching and passing the 900 Metres.

Passing the 1050 Metres, OUR CLASS ACT was awkwardly placed outside the heels of KING ECCELLENTE which shifted out.

SUPER JOY, which was following OUR CLASS ACT, got its head up in consequence when travelling keenly behind OUR CLASS ACT.

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, HARMONY N HOME (Apprentice Y L Chung) was slow to muster speed.

After the race, Apprentice Chung stated that he was asked to ride HARMONY N HOME in a midfield position, however, after being required to race much further back in the field than had been intended, HARMONY N HOME then did not finish the race off.

A veterinary inspection of HARMONY N HOME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Passing the 900 Metres, SUPER JOY got its head up of its own accord.

LYRICAL MOTION was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and at the entrance to the Straight shifted out towards the heels of D STAR, resulting in LYRICAL MOTION becoming unbalanced when having to be checked away from behind that horse.

Approaching the 100 Metres, SUPER JOY momentarily raced tight between HARMONY N HOME and OUR CLASS ACT which shifted out.

After the race, H Bowman stated that it was intended from barrier 9 for OUR CLASS ACT to be ridden quietly tonight.

He said after beginning better than expected on OUR CLASS ACT, he did not ride his mount along, however, when horses drawn more favourably than OUR CLASS ACT were not able to maintain their positions, this resulted in OUR CLASS ACT being left racing further forward than anticipated.

He said when D STAR maintained its position inside OUR CLASS ACT after the 1100 Metres, OUR CLASS ACT was then left racing wide and without cover when travelling in a more forward position than had been anticipated.

A veterinary inspection of OUR CLASS ACT immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

Before being allowed to race again, OUR CLASS ACT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

KING ECCELLENTE and SAVVY CHIC were sent for sampling.