Recap by phillip woo

Plunged late, Travel First assumed the lead 1,200m from Hit The Bid, handed up to Happy Surveys 1,000m out, reclaimed the front 350m out and held off Ultimate Glory by a whisker for the a first win at his 18th start. Kei Chiong Ka-kei's claim made the difference. Ultimate Glory settled one off the fence in midfield, got to the outside of Hit The Bid four deep at the 250m and finished to make it tight on the wire. Hit The Bid settled one off in third after leading early on, straightened three deep and kept grinding away to finish a distant third. Formula Won ran on steadily after a rails run to snatch a Quartet spot. Sempiternal was held deep in midfield until rolling forward to park three deep without cover in fourth 900m out, straightened six deep and kept on reasonably well. Happy Contender ran on steadily without looking a chance. Sure Peace had to hit the brakes 60m out when he got going four deep from the tail of the field after a slow break. Turin Pearl made progress down the far outside without threatening after travelling one off the fence behind midfield. Happy Surveys was stopping at the 200m. Terrific Master never was a factor. Northern Falls covered a tonne of ground and struggled.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (644)-THE HONG KONG RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION CUP(HANDICAP) - Class 3 - 1650Metres

HORSE APLENTY was withdrawn on 13.5.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore right fore medial suspensory) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SURE PEACE (Y T Cheng).

Before being allowed to race again, HORSE APLENTY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

TERRIFIC MASTER was slow to begin.

SURE PEACE began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners.

HAPPY CONTENDER and JUBILEE FUN bumped at the start.

A short distance after the start, TURIN PEARL, which had been steadied to obtain cover, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HAPPY SURVEYS which was taken out marginally by ULTIMATE GLORY.

Despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, both SEMPITERNAL and NORTHERN FALLS failed to muster early speed and consequently raced wide and without cover throughout the race.

After the 1200 Metres, HIT THE BID got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover.

Over the final 100 Metres, SURE PEACE was checked away from the heels of HIT THE BID when badly held up for clear running behind that horse and inside SEMPITERNAL.

When held up for clear running, SURE PEACE shifted away from the heels of HIT THE BID and near the 50 Metres brushed the hindquarters of SEMPITERNAL which became badly unbalanced.

Due to this incident, C K Tong, the rider of SEMPITERNAL, was obliged to stop riding over the concluding stages.

FOODIE lost its left hind plate during the race.

The performance of NORTHERN FALLS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

A veterinary inspection of NORTHERN FALLS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

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

After the race, Y T Cheng (SURE PEACE) advised that at the entrance to the Straight he had to wipe his goggles in an attempt to improve his visibility.

B Prebble stated that it was decided that HAPPY SURVEYS should be ridden in a forward position due to the condition of the track as it was felt that it would not be advantageous for the horse to race back in the field.

He said however it was not intended for HAPPY SURVEYS to be ridden in the lead rather it was hoped that it would find a trailing position behind the speed.

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

TRAVEL FIRST and ULTIMATE GLORY were sent for sampling.