Recap by phillip woo

Brilliant Express travelled five back on the fence and wove a run near the inside to get up 50m out for a first win at his seventh start. He deserved that after seconds in two of three earlier runs this term. Long-time leader Sky Deep kept on well for second after getting unbalanced when hitting the running rail 250m out. He's a winner waiting to happen with seconds in back-to-back runs. Phoenix Light stayed on third best after getting hampered 1,050m out following a prominent run on the fence. He's close to a win if he remains in the grade. Specked late Lucky Blessing just hung on for fourth after tracking the leader from gate 10. It was his best run from five starts following a move to blinkers. Lucky Gold ran on steadily to just take fifth after a rails run from midfield. Leslie made good ground late through the middle to just miss fifth prize money after making his run one-off with cover from behind midfield. He's not far off a rating bottom.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five : (391) - PROSPERITY HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Meters

Horse No 1 PHOENIX LIGHT (G192) C Soumillon Y L Chung (LUCKY BLESSING) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 900 Metres he allowed his mount to shift in when not clear of ATOMIC BEAUTY, resulting in ATOMIC BEAUTY being taken in onto PHOENIX LIGHT which was checked and lost its rightful running and also resulting in LUCKY GOLD which was racing to the inside of PHOENIX LIGHT being crowded for room.

Y L Chung was suspended from riding in races for one Hong Kong raceday to be conducted on Sunday, 23 February 2025 at Sha Tin.

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

Horse No 2 CHARMING BABE (J513) K Teetan Bumped at the start and became unbalanced.

Over the concluding stages could not be ridden out to the finish when positioned tight to the inside of LUCKY BLESSING which shifted in slightly.

Horse No 3 LESLIE (E471) B Avdulla Bumped at the start.

Horse No 4 BRILLIANT EXPRESS (J321) H Bowman In the middle stages raced keenly and near the 800 Metres was steadied to avoid LUCKY GOLD.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 5 SUPER GOLDI (H477) K C Leung Near the 1000 Metres was taken wider.

Horse No 6 SKY DEEP (K041) A Hamelin Leaving the 300 Metres when placed under full pressure shifted in towards the running rail and became badly unbalanced.

A short distance later again shifted in and struck the running rail.

SKY DEEP then continued to race greenly to the finish of the event.

Having regard to the horse's previous racing manners, the Stewards determined that SKY DEEP must barrier trial satisfactorily on consecutive occasions in Hong Kong from an inside barrier where it be required to be ridden out in the Home Straight before being permitted to race again.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 7 MAX QUE (J514) M Chadwick On jumping bounded and lost ground.

Near the 800 Metres was steadied to avoid BRILLIANT EXPRESS.

Over the final 100 Metres could not be fully ridden out to the finish when it improved behind SKY DEEP.

Horse No 8 FLYING AKEED (J471) A Atzeni On jumping was bumped by LUCKY BLESSING which shifted in abruptly, resulting in FLYING AKEED becoming unbalanced.

In the early stages raced keenly and leaving the 1000 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from LESLIE for some distance.

Horse No 9 VICTORY PATCH (J415) H Bentley A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Horse No 10 ZETTA FORCE (J546) C L Chau Near the 1000 Metres was steadied to avoid FLYING AKEED.

Near the 650 Metres was steadied away from LESLIE.

A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a laceration to the right hind leg.

Horse No 12 LUCKY BLESSING (K073) Y L Chung Shifted in abruptly at the start and was bumped.

Y L Chung (LUCKY BLESSING) pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 900 Metres (see PHOENIX LIGHT).

Near the 300 Metres was hampered when taken out by SKY DEEP.

Prior to declaring weighed-in, the Stewards viewed the patrol films to ascertain if there were sufficient grounds for a protest/objection against SKY DEEP.

Having regard to the beaten margin between the two horses and the manner in which they finished the race off, the Stewards declined to lodge a protest/objection on behalf of LUCKY BLESSING and weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

Y L Chung pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 150 Metres (see).

Horse No 13 ATOMIC BEAUTY (H066) Z Purton After the event, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, ATOMIC BEAUTY is better suited racing at the Happy Valley circuit.

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

Horse No 14 LUCKY GOLD (G112) C Y Ho Steadied near the 900 Metres when crowded.

Near the 500 Metres lay out slightly and then was steadied when momentarily crowded by CHARMING BABE (K Teetan) which lay in when racing to the inside of HARMONY N HOME.

K Teetan was advised to exercise more care.

Near the 150 Metres was steadied to avoid BRILLIANT EXPRESS (H Bowman) which shifted in.

H Bowman was reprimanded.