Recap by phillip woo

Plunged late, Cheerful Boy came through along the inside to take the lead 1,150m out, cornered a length on top and just held off the late surge of Smiling Charm for a second course-and-distance win. The claimer's allowance and the biased-for-speed course was the key to victory. Smiling Charm was still last at the 350m but finished willingly down the outside to make it close on the wire. He had been finding the line well in early 1,400m runs at this level and relished the step to a mile. Let Us Win was ridden along after a sluggish break to settle prominent along the fence and kept on gamely to just hold the raging favourite Rattan for a placing. It's taken him a few runs to find his legs but the drop in class did help. Rattan stayed on well after a deep run in midfield to just miss a placing. He remains a winner waiting to happen. Home Run ran on well near the outside after travelling second from the rear. It was a decent run in defeat and he isn't far off a win in the grade. Citron Spirit covered too much ground in the run and came up flat in the last 100m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (669)-GLADIOLUS HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1600Metres

ISHVARA shifted out at the start, tightening WINWIN RUBY onto VOLITATION.

PLAY IT jumped awkwardly with its head up and soon after the start was crowded for room between FANTASTIC KAKA and SMILING CHARM.

RATTAN began awkwardly.

From a wide barrier, AMAZING AGILITY was steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

LET US WIN lost its right front plate after the 300 Metres.

When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon stated that although CITRON SPIRIT is usually ridden conservatively and settles in the back half of the field, with the racing pattern today appearing to favour on pace runners, he was asked to endeavour to position CITRON SPIRIT a little more prominently near midfield and with cover if possible.

He said in accordance with his instructions he allowed CITRON SPIRIT to roll forward along the Back Straight, however, as the field condensed, he was not able to find cover and was left racing four wide.

He said whilst he was able to shift in to a three wide position by the 600 Metres, the effort of racing wide and without cover had taken its toll and CITRON SPIRIT was a beaten horse soon after straightening.

Trainer P F Yiu confirmed that due to on pace runners appearing to be favoured today, he had asked Apprentice Poon to have CITRON SPIRIT placed a little more prominently than what it normally would be in its races.

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

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

A veterinary inspection of ISHVARA immediately following the race confirmed the horse to be a "roarer' which had previously been reported.

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that RATTAN had sustained a small overreach wound to the inside of the right front heel.

RATTAN, CHEERFUL BOY and SMILING CHARM were sent for sampling.