This race didn’t rate well. Having said that, there were some nice runs from inexperienced gallopers that will benefit enormously from the outing, namely Romantic Chef (needs further) and Eptiwins. I am not surprised there was an enquiry in to the ride on Eptiwins, as it was very questionable. A number of decisions made over 1000m on that galloper beggar belief.

Bullish Glory ensured a rather quick section down the back which ultimately played in to the hands of the first two past the post. A forgive run for Good Days who wasn’t tested between the 400-200m and not ridden hard thereafter. Midnite Promise was first-up on a relatively quick tempo, so he might be one to take from the race, should he find a race with less pace and pressure overall.

The overall time was basically on standard, but considering they had gone 4 lengths slower than standard the first 800m and ran the final 400m around 2.75 quicker, it made the run of our main each bet Monkey Jewellery HUGE!!! It is the best run in defeat so far this season and with a better gate, over a similar trip or a touch further he will be very, very hard to beat. He clocked the third-best final-400m of the meeting at 21.78. 

A solid tempo ensured the backmarkers were going to figure in the finish. City Legend is going well and can win one, but the run of the race here was Care Free Prince who battled very well after settling handy on a fast pace. He didn’t win a race last season but is well-handicapped and can get one soon on a mark of 45. Supreme Witness was heavily backed and he too deserves another chance as he just went too hard contesting the lead.

Quite a solid tempo again and that helped Green Energy post the fifth-best final-400m (21.90) at the meeting on the way to victory. The application of blinkers and ridden cold resulted in him clearly posting a career-best run in Hong Kong. Aerohappiness returned with ‘blood in the trachea’ and we cannot make him a play again on that basis (potentially unrealiable). High Volatility was very good battling away after setting a solid tempo with a light weight. 

This was an on-pace dominated race with a soft first-800m. Bigwood defied the tempo when rattling home for third, but on face value it appears the better horses got the better runs in this race.

Not sure we learned too much here except that Ivictory can beat Hot King Prawn over 1200m at level weights. Doctor Geoff was very good over an unsuitable trip, so we’ll be tracking his placement closely.

It was clearly the win of the day from Beauty Generation. He attained a relatively easy first-600m but then sustained a solid speed for the final-800m. This was a better figure than he posted when winning the International Mile suggesting he might have improved again! Ping Hai Star posted a terrific finishing burst, including the second-best final-400m (21.69) of the day. He is up to Group 1 level. 

This race didn’t rate anything special, however, the winner Superich didn’t have the smoothest run in transit with Daring Fit not racing tractably for Teetan. Diamond Rhyme caught the eye without being fully tested. 

Given the tempo, the winner Little Giant had a beautiful run and was too good. However, Dragon General (21.50 best-400m day), Good Standing and War Room all closed strongly. The issue for Dragon General is his best runs are when ridden cold but he often therefore has too much to do to win. A number from this race will be competitive going forward but it will depend on various race pace and distance for each.