Recap by phillip woo

Firming favourite Keep You Warm easily drew away for the win after getting pressured for the lead by Heart Conquered to make it two on the trot following a switch to the Valley 1,000m. He can win again if he remains in the class. First Responder closed well to grab second 100m out following a one-off trip in midfield. He continues to sprint very well in his three starts at both tracks this term. Never Too Soon came from last along the inside to snatch third close to home. It was a good run first-up and he is looking for a further trip on his overseas form. We The South stopped badly 50m out after looking at least a place chance for the most part following a box-seat run. The big weight likely took its toll on this occasion. Propice came from behind midfield to earn a slice of the prize money. It was a better effort fourth-up after a badly hampered effort last month at Sha Tin. Super Axiom held his ground after chasing the speed wide without cover from gate 11. It wasn't a bad effort despite going against his usual front-running tactics. Well-backed late Amazing Rocky was already a beaten runner when impeded near the 100m following a one-out, one-back run from a wide draw. He's just not good enough at this level.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (139) - ZHAOQING HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1000Meters

PROPICE, which was fractious in the stalls when being saddled, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and found to be suitable to race.

BRILLIANT LIFE began very awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of GUNNISON, resulting in BRILLIANT LIFE losing ground.

COLONEL and WE THE SOUTH were crowded for room on jumping between HEART CONQUERED which shifted in and KEEP YOU WARM which got its head on the side and shifted out.

This resulted in COLONEL losing ground.

From the outside barrier, NEVER TOO SOON was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 900 Metres, PROPICE was eased away from the heels of FIRST RESPONDER which was racing tight inside the heels of WE THE SOUTH which got its head on the side and lay in away from HEART CONQUERED.

Making the turn at the 600 Metres, PROPICE got its head on the side and shifted out and in doing so bumped the hindquarters of BRILLIANT LIFE, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.

GUNNISON, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence.

At the entrance to the Straight, SUPER AXIOM and AMAZING ROCKY raced tight.

After the 250 Metres, SUPER AXIOM was awkwardly placed outside the hindquarters of HEART CONQUERED which shifted out.

Passing the 150 Metres, AMAZING ROCKY was hampered and shifted in away from the heels of HEART CONQUERED (K H Chan) which shifted in under pressure before being corrected by its rider.

K H Chan was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that in future he reacts quicker to his mounts shifting ground than he did on this occasion.

Passing the 50 Metres, NEVER TOO SOON, which was closing off the race strongly, momentarily raced in restricted room inside WE THE SOUTH which shifted in marginally before being corrected by its rider.

Close to the finishing line, PROPICE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of FIRST RESPONDER.

Throughout the race, SUPER AXIOM travelled wide and without cover.

After the race, K Teetan stated that after obtaining a good position in the early stages behind the lead, AMAZING ROCKY, which was up in grade today, initially travelled satisfactorily, however, came under pressure prior to the Home Turn.

He said after this AMAZING ROCKY stayed on satisfactorily in the early part of the Straight, however, gave ground over the concluding stages.

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

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

KEEP YOU WARM and FIRST RESPONDER were sent for sampling.