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Race 8 (414)

THE MERCEDES-BENZ HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP   Rating:-   1800m   Sha Tin   Good

Section 1

Placing Horse
No
Horse Name Jockey Gear Comment
1 5 ZAIDAN (M234) O Doleuze -- Posted 3-wide in mid-division, travelled smoothly to straight, accelerated to a clear lead inside 250M, kept on well final stages to hold off the fast finishing 2nd.
2 3 SWEET ORANGE (M289) W C Marwing TT Switched off to last, had over 6Ls to make up turning home but had no clear run before pulling wide to challenge near 350M, finished strongly (clocked fastest final 400M of the day) and was just denied.
3 7 DOMINANT (N169) N Callan H/XB1 Slow to begin, settled near last 7Ls off the pace, held up early straight, ran on well between horses inside 300M but no impression on first two.
4 2 FAY FAY (L284) D Whyte -- Behind midfield 5Ls back, proved difficult to settle when the pace slackened in middle stages, checked twice passing 800M, took a while to get going in straight, stayed on final 200M.
5 13 LIBERATOR (L240) M Du Plessis B-/H-/TT Ahead of mid-division but travelled wide without cover for most of the way, responded well to pressure in straight, went 2nd 200M out, weakened inside 100M and faded to 5th.
6 4 SMART GIANT (L405) J Lloyd XB/TT Reserved in a rearward position 6Ls back, raced keenly when the pace slackened over the turn, kept on final 400M but could not get to the leaders. (Blood in trachea.)
7 9 DAN EXCEL (N195) D Oliver SR Slotted into a 3-wide position behind midfield, pushed wider nearing 700M and lost cover, kept on passing 400M but not going the pace to seriously challenge, faded final stages.
8 10 BEAUTY TOUCH (N001) M Chadwick TT Always in touch 2-3Ls off the lead, had his chance but not able to quicken with the main rivals inside 400M, no impression.
9 1 CAPTAIN SWEET (L354) T Clark -- Quickly into stride, up with the pace until 1100M, in 3rd place making the home turn, led briefly near 300M, weakened rapidly over final 200M.
10 14 HORACE'S EMPIRE (N002) Z Purton -- Dropped back to the rear, 7Ls off the pace in middle stages, turned wide halfway home turn, not quickened passing 400M, never able to challenge.
11 12 BANKSTERS BONUS (N113) Y T Cheng B/SR1 Settled in midfield along the fence, one-paced final 400M, never a threat.
12 8 PACKING TYCOON (N010) G Mosse TT Awkwardly away, up with early pace then strode forward to take lead passing 1000M, slowed things down over the turn, headed inside 300M, weakened.
13 11 CHEF (N108) K C Leung H/SR Never far off the steady pace, not quickened under pressure, left behind by the field mid-straight.
14 6 CHEERS JOY (N184) T Angland XB/P1 Driven forward, shared lead until 1000M, in 2nd place turning in, found nothing and dropped out rapidly. (Unacceptable performance.)
B : Blinkers BO : Blinker with one cowl only CC : Cornell Collar CP : Sheepskin Cheek Pieces
CO : Sheepskin Cheek Piece One Side E : Ear Plugs H : Hood P : Pacifier
PC : Pacifier with cowls PS : Pacifier with one cowl SB : Sheepskin Browband SR : Shadow Roll
TT : Tongue Tie V : Visor VO : Visor with one cowl XB : Crossed Nose Band
"1" : First time "2" : Replaced "-" : Removed