Recap by phillip woo

Smiling Collector just scrambled home after surging to the lead 150m out following a one-off trip from behind midfield for a third career win and first over the 1,400m from 28 starts. Favourite Forerunner was closing with every stride to just miss after a rail run from behind midfield. He continues to race well without getting his nose in front this term. Grand Boss ran on well for third without threatening the top two after a one-off trip from midfield. He was able to back up an improved effort last start. Happy Daily just failed to get up for a placing after making his run five back and wide on the track from gate 11. He is close to a bottom. Embraced made good ground late to just miss the frame after making his run three from the rear along the inside. He has shown ability in a start once at each track from three outings.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight : (789) - CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT 1400M HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

Horse No 1 MY FLYING ANGEL (J174) Z Purton A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Horse No 2 MARADO (E245) L Hewitson Shifted in at the start and was bumped heavily.

After the race, L Hewitson reported that his mount failed to travel at any stage of the event before finishing the race off in a one-paced manner.

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

Horse No 3 PINS PRINCE (G013) A Hamelin Jumped awkwardly and lost ground and then from the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Got its head up and raced ungenerously in the early stages when being shifted behind and then continued to over-race throughout the middle stages and refused to settle.

Horse No 4 EMBRACES (J276) C L Chau Jumped only fairly and was bumped heavily by MARADO which shifted in.

Near the 400 Metres was disappointed for clear running between WAR OF COURAGE and FIGHT TIME, both of which shifted ground slightly.

Then had difficulty obtaining clear running until near the 300 Metres.

Horse No 5 SOLID WIN (J225) A Atzeni H Bowman (FORERUNNER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 200 Metres he allowed his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of SOLID WIN, resulting in SOLID WIN being checked to avoid the heels of FORERUNNER.

Having regard to Jockey Bowman holding confirmed riding engagements for the remainder of the season and in accordance with previous practices, he was fined the sum of $60,000 in lieu of a one-day suspension.

In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his excellent race riding record within his last 200 rides.

Horse No 6 WAR OF COURAGE (C483) K H Chan Bumped on the hindquarters at the start and became unbalanced.

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

Horse No 7 GRAND BOSS (J353) M F Poon Crowded at the start.

Horse No 8 FORERUNNER (G465) H Bowman On jumping was badly crowded between GRAND BOSS and FIGHT TIME which shifted out.

Prior to declaring weighed-in, the Stewards gave consideration if there were sufficient grounds to lodge a protest/objection on behalf of the connections of FORERUNNER when that runner shifted out slightly away from SMILING COLLECTOR near the 175 Metres.

When the Stewards were satisfied that there were not sufficient grounds and the connections had elected not to lodge a protest/objection, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

When questioned regarding his riding and the reason he elected to shift to the outside of SMILING COLLECTOR near the 250 Metres, H Bowman stated that his initial intention was to improve between GRAND BOSS and SMILING COLLECTOR, however, when SMILING COLLECTOR shifted in slightly approaching the 250 Metres, he was then committed to shifting to that runner's outside to improve.

After considering his explanations, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Bowman were reasonable in the circumstances.

H Bowman pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 200 Metres (see SOLID WIN).

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 10 HAPPY DAILY (E294) C Y Ho On jumping was steadied when crowded between RIVER VIEWS and MR ALADDIN which shifted out.

Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

Horse No 11 SMILING COLLECTOR (G128) H Bentley Crowded at the start, bumped on the hindquarters and became unbalanced.

Near the 1000 Metres commenced to race keenly and got its head up when being steadied away from GRAND BOSS.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 14 MR ALADDIN (H386) A Badel After the race, A Badel stated that from a wide barrier and with MR ALADDIN dropping back in distance today, it settled further back than its most recent starts.