Recap by phillip woo

Zacian just got up to deny long-time leader Smart Folks after getting all the favours in the box seat for a first win at his 33rd start. He's always threatened to break through and a return to the dirt worked the oracle. Smart Folks led the entire way from gate two except when it counted on the wire. He has the tools to add to an earlier win on the turf. Favourite Aca Power finished nicely to fill a placing after making his run near the inside from midfield. He continues to add to his good form this campaign on both surfaces. Punted late, Apex Top weakened over the final 100m after a pace-stalking run. He's shown progress in his past three starts after joining the Douglas Whyte stable. Compulsory ran on to finish next best without threatening the top four from behind midfield. He did produce a better effort two runs ago on the turf. Touch Faith ran on without threatening after settling towards the rear along the inside from gate 12. It was an OK effort in a race run to suit those up front. Dashing Genius just held his ground after rounding the final bend with two wider out after a one-off run worse than midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (531) - HAP MUN BAY HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Meters

SMART FOLKS, which brushed a rail with its right hind limb on entering the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race.

On arrival at the Start, it was noted that ON EXCEL STAR had blood at its mouth.

ON EXCEL STAR was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race.

ZACIAN was slow to begin.

ON EXCEL STAR jumped only fairly and shortly after the start was then hampered when crowded by ACA POWER which shifted out.

Shortly after the start, COMPULSORY, which jumped only fairly, was steadied when crowded between MEDIC ELITE and DRAGON KINGDOM which shifted out.

In this incident, COMPULSORY made contact with the hindquarter of MEDIC ELITE, resulting in MEDIC ELITE becoming unbalanced.

From the outside barrier, TOUCH FAITH was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

H Bentley (APEX TOP) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 700 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of ON EXCEL STAR, resulting in that horse being checked and taken in onto ACA POWER, causing ACA POWER to be unnecessarily crowded.

H Bentley was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 15 April 2023 and to expire on Thursday, 20 April 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Bentley's good race riding record.

Approaching the 400 Metres, DASHING GENIUS was held up behind DRAGON KINGDOM.

MEDIC ELITE raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

A veterinary inspection of MEDIC ELITE immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea and a continuous displacement of the soft palate.

Before being allowed to race again, MEDIC ELITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

After the race, H N Wong (ON EXCEL STAR) reported that, in his opinion, his mount did not appreciate racing on tonight's All Weather surface.

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

Also after the race, K Teetan reported that DRAGON KINGDOM was obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event and as a result did not finish the race off.

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

ACA POWER, ZACIAN and SMART FOLKS were sent for sampling.