Recap by phillip woo

Another Zonda rushed forwaed from gate seven to lead 1,250m out and kept on gamely to just hold off Mighty Steed for a third win from 23 starts. It was clearly his best run from 13 starts this term. Mighty Steed just failed to reel in the winner after going forward four wide from gate 12 to sit outside the eventual winner 1,200m out. He's a winner waiting to happen with seconds in his past two of three runs. Old-timer Never Too Soon ran on nicely to finish a close third after a rails run from midfield. It was an improved run on his return to the Valley 1,650m. Lucky Together made a good bid late down the outside for fourth after making his run second last from gate 10. It was his best local performance at his initial Valley 1,650m start from seven starts. Firming favourite Vivacious Win ran on without threatening after making his run five back and three deep with cover from gate six. He didn't get the race run to suit. Romantic Laos didn't figure after getting caught up in traffic near the inside early straight following a five back run along the inside. Beauty Viva made only a mild bid after a one-off trip from behind midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six : (650) - INCHEON HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

Horse No 1 MIGHTY STEED (J384) Z Purton Prior to declaring weighed-in the Stewards viewed the patrol films to ascertain if there were grounds for a protest/objection against ANOTHER ZONDA being declared the winner due to ANOTHER ZONDA shifting out and brushing MIGHTY STEED approaching the finish of the race.

The Stewards were satisfied that there were not sufficient grounds to do so and accordingly weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 2 ROMANTIC LAOS (G476) E Brown Jumped only fairly.

Shortly after the start shifted out, made contact with EXCELLENT BOY and became unbalanced.

Between the 300 Metres and the 200 Metres was held up for clear running when being shifted to the inside of JUSTIFYING which was giving ground.

Horse No 3 BEAUTY VIVA (K155) H Bowman Near the 400 Metres shifted out and made contact with VIVACIOUS WIN.

Near the 100 Metres was steadied when crowded between VIVACIOUS WIN which shifted in slightly and NEVER TOO SOON which shifted out.

Lay in in the Home Straight.

Horse No 4 ANOTHER ZONDA (K176) M Chadwick Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 5 LUCKY TOGETHER (L079) K C Leung Approaching the 250 Metres had some difficulty obtaining clear running when it lay in whilst being shifted to the outside of VIVACIOUS WIN.

Horse No 6 NEVER TOO SOON (E434) B Avdulla Held up on the Home Turn.

Lay out under pressure over the final 150 Metres, resulting in its rider B Avdulla changing his whip through to his left hand near the 100 Metres.

Horse No 7 THE ABSOLUTE (H438) L Ferraris Jumped only fairly.

From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Near the 200 Metres was momentarily crowded by ROMANTIC LAOS which shifted in.

Horse No 8 GENERAL REDWOOD (L102) Y L Chung Bumped on jumping.

Near the 150 Metres made contact with EXCELLENT BOY which was taken out.

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

Y L Chung stated that at the start his saddle shifted back, placing him at some disadvantage throughout the event.

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

Horse No 9 JUSTIFYING (K027) E C W Wong Approaching the 1300 Metres momentarily raced tight to the inside of EXCELLENT BOY which was taken in by ANOTHER ZONDA which shifted in before being corrected by its rider.

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

Horse No 10 VIVACIOUS WIN (K223) C L Chau Near the 400 Metres became unbalanced when bumped by BEAUTY VIVA which shifted out when improving.

When questioned regarding his riding C L Chau stated that the instructions were to obtain a handy position and then in the Home Straight to not use the whip until the concluding stages as he and Trainer D Eustace agreed that the horse had not previously responded well when being ridden strongly with the whip.

He added despite riding his mount along in the early stages to hold a more forward position VIVACIOUS WIN did not show sufficient pace to do so and as a result settled further back than intended where it was obliged to race wide but with cover behind GENERAL REDWOOD.

When questioned regarding his vigour in the early stages of the Home Straight C L Chau stated that after improving to the outside of BEAUTY VIVA he was satisfied that his mount was improving whilst being encouraged into the race and for this reason he did not fully test the horse until near the 200 Metres.

He said near the 200 Metres he then applied full vigour to VIVACIOUS WIN at which point the horse lay in which prevented him from fully riding the horse out to the finish of the race.

Trainer Eustace confirmed the instructions issued and stated he agreed with Jockey Chau that the whip should be used over the concluding stages as VIVACIOUS WIN had raced and barrier trialed well when ridden in this manner.

He also expressed satisfaction with the manner in which Jockey Chau rode the horse in the Home Straight.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 11 EXCELLENT BOY (K435) M L Yeung Bumped on the hindquarters shortly after the start.

Briefly crowded approaching the 1300 Metres.

Near the 150 Metres was steadied when crowded between GENERAL REDWOOD and NEVER TOO SOON (B Avdulla) which shifted out.

B Avdulla was reprimanded and advised to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground.

Horse No 12 WINNING DATA (H230) K Teetan Jumped awkwardly, shifted out and made contact with GENERAL REDWOOD.

Approaching the 1300 Metres raced tight between ROMANTIC LAOS and VIVACIOUS WIN.