Recap by phillip woo

Pegasus General just got up in the final few strides after a one-off trip in midfield for a second win from 33 starts. The seven-year-old was suited by a downgrade, move to a tongue tie and stable change. Podium came up just a stride short after slotting one off the rail with cover behind midfield. He has been racing well for his new trainer this season. Punted late, Gallant Crown was just touched off late after setting very slow fractions from gate four under a seven-pound apprentice. He's close to a win at this level with placings in back-to-back runs. Favourite Cervin was badly held up the entire straight after a box-seat run. He had a clear excuse. Solar Gogo just held his ground after a one-out, one-back run. He has shown improvement from one run to the next following a downgrade. So Awesome gradually faded after tracking the leader from gate seven. He prefers the 1,400m trip at Sha Tin. Casa Legend produced only a grinding effort after a rail run in midfield. He's found things harder in three consecutive runs after a win and second in back-to-back 1,600m starts.

Racing Incident Report

Race One : (328) - PATERSON HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1650Meters

Horse No 1 CERVIN (H253) K De Melo Near the 300 Metres became held up for clear running between GALLANT CROWN and SO AWESOME and shortly after attempted to take a run when there was insufficient room to do so, resulting in CERVIN making contact with SO AWESOME for some distance thereafter before being disappointed for clear running near the 150 Metres.

CERVIN then obtained clear running to the inside of GALLANT CROWN when that runner shifted out after the 150 Metres.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 2 IVICTORIAM (J226) H Bowman A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Horse No 3 PEGASUS GENERAL (G189) K C Leung Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 4 CASA LEGEND (G126) A Hamelin Near the 1500 Metres was eased to avoid SOLAR GOGO which shifted out slightly.

Horse No 5 GALLANT CROWN (D359) E C W Wong Apprentice E C W Wong pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 100 Metres (see SOLAR GOGO).

Horse No 7 SOLAR GOGO (H390) C L Chau Near the 200 Metres raced in restricted room between SO AWESOME which was taken out by CERVIN and PEGASUS GENERAL (K C Leung) which shifted in.

K C Leung was advised to exercise more care.

Apprentice E C W Wong (GALLANT CROWN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he allowed his mount out to shift out when insufficiently clear of SO AWESOME, resulting in SO AWESOME being taken out from its rightful running and also resulting in SOLAR GOGO having to be checked when crowded between SO AWESOME and PEGASUS GENERAL.

Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for one Hong Kong raceday to be conducted on Sunday, 19 January 2025 at Sha Tin.

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

Horse No 8 INVINCIBLE MISSILE (C037) L Ferraris Slow to begin.

After the event, L Ferraris reported that his mount did not travel well throughout the event and failed to run on in the Home Straight but he could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance.

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

Horse No 9 SO AWESOME (D258) C Y Ho Between the 300 Metres and the 150 Metres was bumped on a number of occasions by CERVIN (K De Melo) when that runner attempted to obtain clear running to the outside of GALLANT CROWN.

K De Melo was severely reprimanded and advised he must ensure that there is sufficient room when improving into runs.

Lost its rightful running near the 100 Metres.

Horse No 10 PODIUM (H173) M F Poon When questioned regarding his riding out over the concluding stages and the reason he lost balance to the inside, M F Poon stated that approaching the winning post he commenced to push his mount forward with his right arm in order to encourage PODIUM over the line.

He said as he did so PODIUM changed stride passing the winning post which resulted in him losing balance when his weight shifted to the inside.

Jockey Poon was advised that he must ensure, wherever possible, he does not ride his mounts in a manner that causes him to lose balance and compromise his own safety and the safety of his fellow riders.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 12 RED MAVERICK (J067) A Pouchin When being shifted across behind runners near the 1500 Metres was steadied to avoid PODIUM.

A short distance later, RED MAVERICK then made contact with INVINCIBLE MISSILE when that runner held its position behind PODIUM.

Over-raced in the early and middle stages and near the 1100 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from heels.

Near the 500 Metres got its head up when being held up for clear running behind IVICTORIAM.

After the event, A Pouchin reported that from a wide barrier he was given no specific instructions.

He said when caught wide in the early stages he elected to shift RED MAVERICK across behind runners to avoid covering additional ground.

Horse No 11 TATTENHAM (H121) L Hewitson After being loaded into the barriers reared and got its front legs over the starting gates.

Acting on veterinary advice that TATTENHAM had sustained a wound to the left front leg and was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards.

The Stewards ruled that TATTENHAM will be required to attend barrier practice to the satisfaction of the Starter prior to performing satisfactorily in consecutive barrier trials in Hong Kong and being subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.