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Race 4 (114)

SAPPHIRE HANDICAP   Rating:60-40   2000m   Sha Tin   Good To Firm

Section 1

Placing Horse
No
Horse Name Jockey Gear Comment
1 5 CONNOISSEUR'S LOVE (CD234) C W Wong B Nicely placed throughout, 2Ls from lead in 3rd at 1600 M, pressed on from top of home straight to lead 350 M out, soon kicked clear to settle the issue.
2 2 HAPPY CONTENDER (CC152) D Whyte TT 4-back on fence 5Ls off pace in midfield at 1400 M, 4Ls down in 7th taking final turn, no chance with winner but stayed on well to take 2nd in final strides.
3 10 GRABBIT (CG144) E Saint-Martin B/TT Slow away but quickly recovered to race 3Ls off pace in 4th at 1400 M, similarly placed turning for home, lacked the gears to tackle the winner and grabbed for 2nd close home.
4 4 SUNNY RIVIERA (CC240) F Coetzee SR2/TT- Slowest away, 7Ls down on fence in 10th at 1300 M, marginally closer but still in 10th or so entering home straight, retrieved some minor late ground but never likely to place.
5 8 BROWN BEAUTY (CC029) R Fradd B Quietly handled in rear bunch about 9Ls off pace until the 800 M, tight for room when 7Ls down in rear turning for home, kept on at same pace once clear.
6 6 PACIFIC ALLIANCE (CC230) S Dye B/H/TT Switched from widest gate to race in last on fence 10Ls off pace until the 800 M, wide and 8Ls last on straightening for home, flattered by running on past half the field.
7 13 POSA (CE337) K L Chui SR/H Settled 6Ls off pace in midfield with cover at 1400 M, similar position taking home turn when steadied out into clear running, finished off only evenly.
8 1 BARRACUDA (CB320) K T Yeung -- Disputed early tempo on fence at 1600 M, 1L in the clear at 800 M, headed by winner 350 M out and soon faded out tamely.
9 12 ONE EYE JACK (CD393) M Odendaal B Wide early but eased in decent position at 1400 M when 3Ls back in 5th and 2-wide, hard pressed to maintain this proximity turning for home, weakened sharply inside final 200 M.
10 14 WAIT FOR ME (CE332) W M Lai TT- Yet another weak effort, well placed when 5Ls back in 6th at 1400 M, similarly placed but hanging in taking home turn, found zero off the bridle and eased close home.
11 7 TRAVEL LEADER (CD226) D Nikolic -- Sent on to dispute the lead out 2-wide at 1600 M, 1L down in 2nd at 800 M, niggled along under pressure at 600 M, 2Ls down in 3rd and struggling at top of home straight, folded.
12 11 HAPPY HEROES (CD261) A Delpech B Always in rear trio and never much better than 6Ls off the speed at any stage, disappointing effort after a promising finish over a sprint trip four days earlier. (Blood in trachea.)
13 3 SUPER DANA (CC293) G Mosse B Always 3-wide no cover from the 1400 M, 7Ls back in 9th at 1200 M, under pressure at 600 M, 6Ls down in 9th turning for home, retreated.
14 9 SPECIFIC SORCEROR (CA321) Y T Cheng B Mostly 3-wide with cover but worse than midfield and about 7Ls off the speed until home turn, very weak thereafter.
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