Recap by phillip woo

King's Man just held off King Bountiful for the win after dashing to the front 180m out following a rail run travelling midfield. He's always a chance in this grade. King Bountiful came from about 20 lengths back with a ducking-and-weaving run near the inside to make it close on the wire. Jolly Gains finished well travelling third from the rear to fill a placing in his best run to date. He's shown some lift signs following a switch to the Valley in his past two of six starts. Polymer Luck grudgingly gave way after driving to the front 1,500m out. It was a good run in defeat but he's not a prolific winner. Excellence made some without menacing after travelling second from the rear. He's a winner waiting to happen if they opt to run him in Class Five next time out. Glory Star gave up the chase 200m out following a prominent run along the fence. There might have been issues with his health. Aeroluminance faltered 150m out after settling one off behind the leaders.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (497) - JAFFE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1800Meters

WUSHU CHAMPION was withdrawn on 13.3.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LITTLE FANTASY (K C Leung).

Before being allowed to race again, WUSHU CHAMPION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A Sanna (KING'S MAN) was fined the sum of $2,000 for presenting himself to weight out for this race in the incorrect colours.

From wide barriers, JOLLY GAINS, KING BOUNTIFUL and LITTLE FANTASY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

EXCELLENCE was also steadied shortly after the start to obtain a position with cover.

Near the 1650 Metres, PO CHING TREASURE momentarily raced in restricted room between THE SYLPH and GLORY STAR.

Passing the 1600 Metres, LITTLE FANTASY was awkwardly placed outside the heels of THE SYLPH when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse.

Despite being hard ridden for a considerable distance in the early stages, CONTRIBUTION failed to muster speed.

Passing the 1400 Metres, PO CHING TREASURE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AEROLUMINANCE when racing tight inside MY BLESSING.

After passing the winning post on the first occasion, MY BLESSING was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1000 Metres was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead and closer to the rail.

Rounding the Home Turn, JOLLY GAINS was awkwardly placed behind AEROLUMINANCE which was giving ground.

Throughout the race, CONTRIBUTION travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, M Chadwick stated that after obtaining clear running inside POLYMER LUCK near the 150 Metres, KING BOUNTIFUL commenced to finish off the race strongly.

He said he noted that KING'S MAN was shifting in under pressure in advance of KING BOUNTIFUL and he anticipated that horse would continue to shift in towards the running rail, therefore he elected to ensure that KING BOUNTIFUL maintained its momentum and directed it to the outside of KING'S MAN.

He said as he did this KING'S MAN was corrected by its rider which required him to shift KING BOUNTIFUL further than he had anticipated.

He said although KING'S MAN being corrected resulted in a run being available to the inside of that horse, at that time he had already committed KING BOUNTIFUL to shift to the outside of KING'S MAN.

When questioned, M L Yeung stated that he was instructed to obtain a forward position on AEROLUMINANCE as the horse had raced particularly well when ridden in a forward position last start.

He said after having to make some use of AEROLUMINANCE in the early stages to cross runners to his inside, he was able to obtain a position outside the leader POLYMER LUCK passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He said passing the 1300 Metres AEROLUMINANCE commenced to travel well and he intended maintaining the position outside POLYMER LUCK.

He said however that MY BLESSING, which was in a three wide position without cover outside AEROLUMINANCE, was ridden forward after the 1100 Metres.

He said at this time AEROLUMINANCE commenced to travel strongly when challenged by MY BLESSING and initially he was not able to steady his mount sufficiently to allow MY BLESSING to cross.

He said although he was aware the race was being run at a particularly fast tempo at this time, he was reluctant to restrain AEROLUMINANCE too strongly given that AEROLUMINANCE was travelling well and that he anticipated that after being crossed by MY BLESSING, the pace of the race would slacken which may result in AEROLUMINANCE being awkwardly placed behind MY BLESSING.

M L Yeung was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, his riding of AEROLUMINANCE from after the 1100 Metres until approaching the 700 Metres, when AEROLUMINANCE was crossed by MY BLESSING, lacked judgement and initiative given the fast tempo of the race at this time.

He was further advised that he should have steadied AEROLUMINANCE to allow MY BLESSING to cross and provide AEROLUMINANCE with cover which would have resulted in this section of the race being run at a more sedate tempo which would have provided AEROLUMINANCE with a greater opportunity to finish off the race.

Mr P O'Sullivan, the trainer of AEROLUMINANCE, was questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the horse.

He stated that following AEROLUMINANCE's good performance at its last start over the same distance at Sha Tin, in consultation with the owner of AEROLUMINANCE, it was decided for the horse to again be ridden in a forward position.

When questioned regarding the anticipated tempo of tonight's race in comparison with the most recent race, Mr O'Sullivan stated that whilst he anticipated that tonight's race would be run at a quicker tempo than that race which he anticipated would be run at a slower tempo, he anticipated that AEROLUMINANCE would have sufficient early speed to cross runners to its inside without having to make too much use of the horse.

He said the circumstances of tonight's race resulted in the race being run at a quicker tempo, particularly in the early stages, than he anticipated and because of the strong pace AEROLUMINANCE was not able to finish off the race.

Mr O'Sullivan was advised that whilst the Stewards were comfortable that the tactics adopted on AEROLUMINANCE at its most recent start at Sha Tin were reasonable, given the anticipated slow tempo of that race and the horse's wide barrier, they had concerns regarding AEROLUMINANCE being ridden forward in tonight's race given it was reasonably expected that it would be run at a quicker tempo given the runners engaged.

Mr O'Sullivan was reminded of the need to have horses ridden in a manner to allow them the best opportunity to finish off the race and, wherever possible, to be ridden in a consistent manner.

After the race, Z Purton stated that due to the pace of the race in the middle stages, GLORY STAR was never able to travel comfortably.

He said because of this GLORY STAR was then not able to finish off the race.

He said although GLORY STAR was momentarily crowded for room inside KING BOUNTIFUL near the 200 Metres, this had no bearing on the horse's finishing position as GLORY STAR was well beaten at this time.

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

A veterinary inspection of THE SYLPH 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, THE SYLPH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

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

GLORY STAR, KING'S MAN and KING BOUNTIFUL were sent for sampling.