Race 1 – Stubbs Handicap, HK $875,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.26 Standard Time: 57.15 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power

It'd been almost a year between victories for SUPER AXIOM (AUS 6yo g Exceed And Excel – Stella Senza Cielo), but he returned to the winners stall in emphatic fashion tonight. The six-year-old showed superior speed to take the lead shortly after the jump. He did so with ease as they set a genuine tempo through the middle stages. He led comfortably around the turn and coming to the 150m point, none of his rivals were taking ground off Super Axiom. He was far too strong, keeping his rivals at bay and winning very easily by 2-3/4 lengths. MODEST GENTLEMAN was only fairly away and settled toward the rear of the field. Jerry Chau was able to improve his position through the middle stages as he slid along the inside rail, but he was held up for a run as they approached the home turn. The gelding was travelling strongly turning for home and Chau was able to get off heels and into the clear early in the straight. He closed off well down the outside to run home into second position, getting the nod in a photo finish, but the winner was just too good. SWEET DIAMOND was away on terms from a wide barrier and worked across to sit outside the leader in running. He was a couple of lengths off the leader as they turned for home and despite Alex Badel's hard riding, the gelding was unable to make a dent in the margin. He would be caught right on the wire for second, ending up 2-3/4 lengths away in third.

Race 2 – Wan Chai Gap Handicap, HK $875,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.89 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful

NORTHERN BEAST (AUS 4yo g Maurice – Tiffany's Diamond) scored his maiden victory at start 12. After getting away well from barrier five, the gelding got across to settle in the one out-one-back position. The leading trio broke away from the rest of the field heading down the back, with Bowman creeping closer passing the 800m point to remain within striking distance. The gap closed as they turned off the back straight and the Australian hoop was smoking his pipe approaching the home turn as the son of Maurice was travelling strongly. Bowman gave the four-year-old plenty of time and space to wind up, grinding away down the outside to eventually level up to the leaders close to home. The gelding eventually stuck his nose in front inside the final 50m and he was far too strong late, pulling away to win comfortably by three-quarters of-a-length. BIG TWO jumped well and got across to be handy in the run, getting onto the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He remained there throughout the event, tracking the leader wherever he went before making a move with 400m to run. Harry Bentley was able to get off the fence at the home turn and went up to take the lead shortly after straightening. He was in front for a long way, but Northern Beast was looming large right down the stretch. He was unable to hold off the winner, but he would finish in second position in a very good effort. MEDIC ELITE sustained a good run from midfield to close off into third position under Angus Chung. He continues to knock on the door of another victory after being very consistent throughout this season.

Race 3 – Mount Butler Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.69 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends

Jerry Chau and Danny Shum notched up their first win of the night as EXUBERANT (AUS 6yo g Free Eagle – Coablo) got the job done. The gelding got away on terms but drifted back shortly after the start to end up worse than midfield on settling down. Chau rode the gelding along down the back straight to improve his position as they turned off the back, narrowing the margin to the big leader around the turn. The gelding was improving around runners, but he was still spotting the leader 6-1/2 lengths with 400m left to run. Chau got to the middle of the track as they turned for home and the gelding let rip strongly. He hit the front with 150m to run and while he was tiring late, he was able to sustain the effort and hold on to win by a neck on the line. PHOENIX LIGHT was caught wide early doors and Ellis Wong dragged the gelding back to settle toward the rear of the field. He was still racing three-wide down the back straight, before getting into the running line with about 600m left to run. Wong was tracing the eventual winner Exuberant off the back and around the turn, trying to stick with the gelding as they swung into the straight. Phoenix Light was the widest runner on straightening and continued to grind away out wide. He was coming strongly late in the race as the leader began to get tired, but he was unable to stick his nose in front. GLORY CLOUD was flashing home at the finish after settling back in last position. He's worth keeping an eye on wherever he heads next.

Race 4 – Siu Ma Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:50.59 Standard Time: 1:49.55 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light

Danny Shum made it a race-to-race double with FLYING SILVER (IRE 5yo g Gleneagles – Bright Snow) getting the job done after being unplaced for over a year. Angus Chung was very neutral on the gelding as they jumped, with the apprentice hoop left racing three-wide and without cover throughout the event. The pace was good, and Chung allowed the flashy grey to do as he pleased out on the track, sliding forward down the back straight under his own steam. The five-year-old loomed up on the outside of the leaders with 400m left to run with Chung still having a good grip on the gelding, before sprinting quickly at the top of the straight and taking the lead. He put a gap on his rivals, being over a length in front with 50m to run as he proved too hard to catch, winning by three-quarters of-a-length on the line. It was a close finish for second, but GOLD TACK got the nod in a photo. The gelding settled toward the tail of the field under Keagan De Melo and was eventually relegated back to a clear last as some moves came mid-race. De Melo got stuck onto the gelding as they turned off the back, trying to tack onto the three-wide trail around the home turn. Gold Tack was the widest runner in the straight as they swung for home, with the gelding griding away out wide and sustaining his run. He just continued to plug away out wide, sticking his nose down right on the line to finish in second. RUNNING AHEAD was forced to settle for third in that clump. Lyle Hewitson followed the eventual winner into the race, but he was under plenty of pressure prior to the home turn. He was unable to make any impression on the winner and was caught late by Gold Tack to finish in third.

Race 5 – Bowen Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.18 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision

Caspar Fownes bought up his 1100th winner in Hong Kong as KAHOLO ANGEL (GB 4yo g Havana Grey – Starboard Watch) brought up his second win of the season. From a wide draw, Ellis Wong was caught facing the breeze three-wide as he was unable to slot in around the first turn. The pace wasn't overly strong, and the gelding was racing keenly up to the home turn as he began to pull Wong into the race. The apprentice moved wide in the straight, coming down the middle of the track to make his challenge. The flashy grey let down with a brilliant sprint, storming down the outside to hit the front with 150m left to run and pulling away for an emphatic 1-3/4 length victory. It was a grey quinella as WINGS OF WAR ran on into second position. After being midfield in the run, Harry Bentley commenced a move around the home turn which saw him end up wide in the straight. Kaholo Angel came off his back to win the race, but Wings Of War kept on well in the straight to finish in second position. JOY COMING led the field at only a moderate tempo and sprinted well in the straight. He was no match for the winner or second horse but held off his rivals to round out the placings.

Race 6 – Mount Butler Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.91 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends

CALIFORNIA TOUCH (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Touch Of Greatness) scored his first Hong Kong win in the fifth event as he dropped into Class 4 for the first time. The gelding jumped well and was taken straight to the front by Matthew Chadwick. The local hoop led comfortably down the back straight and through the middle stages, keeping a margin back to the second horse throughout the event. He was 1-1/4 lengths in front turning for home as Chadwick stuck to the inside fence with most of the remaining runners heading wider. They were unable to reel him in down the stretch, finishing a neck in front and shedding his maiden tag in Hong Kong. KA YING CHEER jumped well and got across to stalk the leader wherever he went from barrier three. Hugh Bowman was right within striking distance through the middle stages as he sat a length off the leader throughout the race. Bowman still had a good grip of his mount as they turned for home and the Australian hoop darted straight for the middle of the track. He and California Touch were wide apart, though Ka Ying Cheer did look to be narrowing the margin out wide. He got close on the line, but he was unable to reel in the winner. There was a big gap back to MY INTELLIGENT who finished a comfortable third under Keith Yeung. He was caught wide and without cover throughout the race but kept on well in the straight to round out the podium, but he was 4-3/4 lengths off the winner.

Race 7 – Bowen Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.83 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision

It was a dominant victory by SUPERB CAPITALIST (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Shamana) who made every post a winner. The four-year-old shot out of the barriers and took the lead approaching the first turn where he already led by a length. The pace was strong down the back straight as he extended his lead slightly, leading by a couple of lengths with 600m remaining. Chung still had a good hold on the gelding as they approached the home turn, while many of his rivals were off the bit and chasing 400m from the judge. The son of Capitalist railed like a greyhound turning for home and put his rivals to the sword in the straight, pulling away from them late in the race to win by an impressive 4-1/4 lengths. There was a dead head for second with BEAUTY INFINITY and KYRUS DRAGON hitting the line locked together. Beauty Infinity had rolled forward to sit close to the speed from barrier seven, with Zac Purton looking to keep the race favourite within striking distance of the leader. Purton was already hard at work aboard the gelding as they turned for home with Beauty Infinity running to a clear second midway down the straight. He was getting tired close to the line and hit the winning post locked together with Kyrus Dragon, who was storming home at the finish. The gelding ran on strongly down the centre of the track and sitting worse than midfield in the run. The judge was unable to split the pair as they hit the line locked together.

Race 8 – Mount Cameron Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track GoodTime: 1:41.21 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite

It had been a long time coming, but TURIN WARRIOR (AUS 6yo g Not a Single Doubt – Siwa) finally secured his first win in Hong Kong. The gelding slotted right into a midfield position shortly after the jump and was racing comfortably through the early stages of the event. Down the back, Karis Teetan moved into the three-wide trail and slid into a position closer to the speed, racing with cover as they turned off the back straight. Teetan began to urge the gelding along passing the 400m as he built up the revs, swinging wide as they entered the straight. The six-year-old hit the front with 100m to run and was too strong on the night, taking the lead and getting the job done by a length on the line. JUMBO LEGEND was taken straight back to last by Vincent Ho, sitting at the rear of the field throughout the event. He was the widest runner on straightening, spotting the leader 7-1/2 lengths at the top of the straight. He sprinted quickly down the outside as Ho threw everything he had at the gelding. He sustained the long run to finish in second position in what was a very eye-catching performance. SETANTA made a similar run down the outside after sitting at the back of the pack with Jumbo Legend in the run. After sprinting well at the top of the straight, he may have just felt the pinch late in the race, but he held on well to finish in third.

Race 9 – Magazine Gap Handicap, HK $2,050,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.79 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters

ZOOM BOOM (IRE 6yo g Awtaad – Gabardine) scored his second win in Hong Kong and did so in great fashion. The gelding showed good pace out of the gates and rolled forward heading into the first turn, but he was left racing wide and without cover under Harry Bentley. The Englishman was forced to take his medicine and sit wide as he set up shop in a midfield position. The tempo was overly strong down the back as Bentley commenced his move with 600m remaining. He began to work around the outside of the field and joined the leaders at the top of the straight as he got to the middle of the track. Early in the straight, he quickened powerfully to take the lead a furlong from the finish. It was all over with 100m to run as he continued to power away from his rivals, going on to win by two lengths in a very impressive win. RED HARE KING enjoyed the run of the race in fourth, sitting in the one-out-one-back position under Matthew Chadwick. The local hoop tracked the eventual winner into he straight, but he was unable to quicken with Zoom Boom at the top of the straight. Once he worked through his gears, he hit the line well for second, though the winner was too good. GIDDY UP and CAPITAL LEGEND finished in a dead-heat for third. Giddy Up closed off strongly down the outside, while Capital Legend had led the field throughout the event. The judge was unable to split them at the finish.