Recap by phillip woo

Xponential closed nicely to grab victory near the 50m after getting shuffled back to sit deep in midfield at the 700m. He relished a switch to the Valley to chalk up a second win after placing in two of his past five. Gallant Crown made up heaps of ground from near the back and without a clear run until peeling out near the 100m to grab second. Harmony N Home kept on nicely for a placing despite a wide without cover run near the speed from gate 12. He's yet to deliver on a win line but has placed in four of seven starts. Maldives closed well despite bumping on two occasions during the drive to the wire following a patient ride behind midfield on the fence. Sprint Forward was retreating 50m out after being hustled to stalk the leader Majestic Conqueror 800m out. He worked too hard early on. Inno Legend was doing some nice work late near the outside after biding his time three from the back. He's flashed potential once at each track.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (802) - KOTEWALL HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

LUCKY TURBO shifted out at the start and bumped MALDIVES.

SKY TREASURE got its head up on jumping and then despite being hard ridden in the early stages failed to muster speed.

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, HARMONY N HOME was also slow to muster speed and then travelled wide and without cover throughout the race.

When being ridden along to obtain a forward position, MAJESTIC CONQUEROR got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly shortly after the start.

From a wide barrier, CAN'T TOUCH THIS was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

After travelling a short distance, XPONENTIAL shifted in and bumped SPRINT FORWARD.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, SWEETLY BABY was bumped by SPRINT FORWARD which got its head on the side and shifted in away from XPONENTIAL when racing tight inside that horse.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, LUCKY TURBO was bumped by SWEETLY BABY which raced tight inside SPRINT FORWARD which in turn raced tight inside XPONENTIAL which was being steadied to allow FANTASTIC FABIO to cross.

Near the 850 Metres, LUCKY TURBO and SWEETLY BABY made contact.

For some distance approaching and passing the 800 Metres, XPONENTIAL was awkwardly placed inside the heels of FANTASTIC FABIO.

Making the turn near the 550 Metres, INNO LEGEND was crowded for room between XPONENTIAL which continued to be awkwardly placed behind FANTASTIC FABIO and MALDIVES which shifted out marginally making the turn.

Passing the 300 Metres, MALDIVES got its head on the side, lay in and bumped the hindquarters of LUCKY TURBO, causing MALDIVES in particular to become unbalanced.

Near the 250 Metres, INNO LEGEND was directed to the outside of FANTASTIC FABIO after being disappointed for running between that horse which shifted in and GALLANT CROWN which shifted out.

Passing the 100 Metres, MALDIVES shifted around the heels of SPRINT FORWARD in order to obtain clear running and in doing so brushed SWEETLY BABY.

When questioned regarding his riding of GALLANT CROWN, K C Leung stated that the horse was having its first visit to Happy Valley tonight having previously not raced or trialed here.

He said from the horse's inside gate he was asked to have GALLANT CROWN in about a midfield position if possible.

He said GALLANT CROWN began satisfactorily and he allowed his mount to obtain what was going to be a midfield position racing outside INNO LEGEND.

He said approaching the 1100 Metres GALLANT CROWN commenced to be crowded for room inside SWEETLY BABY and he felt that maintaining his position inside that horse would have required him to ride GALLANT CROWN aggressively and as the horse had not previously been to Happy Valley, he was unsure as to how it would respond to being ridden along with the turn near the 1000 Metres approaching and therefore he elected to take a trailing position behind INNO LEGEND rather than continue to race outside that horse.

He said this resulted in GALLANT CROWN losing some ground.

He said GALLANT CROWN made the turn near the 1000 Metres awkwardly and shifted out and he had to help the horse around the turn which resulted in GALLANT CROWN losing further ground.

He said he commenced to ride the horse along after the 1000 Metres to make up lost ground including slapping it down the shoulder with the whip.

He said along the Back Straight he continued to ride GALLANT CROWN along whilst continuing to slap it down the shoulder with the whip and GALLANT CROWN gradually made ground to join the field after the 600 Metres.

He added he continued to ride GALLANT CROWN along which allowed the horse to improve its position to be racing behind MALDIVES rounding the Home Turn.

He said immediately on straightening he shifted GALLANT CROWN to the outside of MALDIVES to continue improving and GALLANT CROWN responded well to his riding.

He said after shifting GALLANT CROWN to the outside of SWEETLY BABY near the 250 Metres, he was required to hesitate for a number of strides passing the 200 Metres due to GALLANT CROWN being held up for clear running behind SWEETLY BABY and HARMONY N HOME and inside FANTASTIC FABIO.

He said after the 200 Metres SWEETLY BABY shifted in under pressure which presented a run between that horse and HARMONY N HOME and he immediately rode his mount along to improve into that run.

He said as he did this HARMONY N HOME shifted in under pressure which resulted in him being disappointed for running between SWEETLY BABY and HARMONY N HOME and having to direct GALLANT CROWN to the outside of HARMONY N HOME and then XPONENTIAL.

He said GALLANT CROWN was able to obtain clear running to the outside of XPONENTIAL near the 100 Metres and the horse then finished off the race strongly when ridden out over the concluding stages.

After considering Jockey Leung's evidence and after viewing the videos, the Stewards were satisfied with Jockey Leung's riding of GALLANT CROWN and therefore no further action was taken.

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that FANTASTIC FABIO had sustained a small laceration to the outside of the right hind heel.

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

SPRINT FORWARD, XPONENTIAL and GALLANT CROWN were sent for sampling.