Race 1 – CW Chu and Lee Woo Sing Alumni Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:09.96 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

Winner: SIGHT HERO (AUS 5yo Love Conquers All – Choose The Moment) got away well but eased back through the opening stages to settle near the tail of the field. They ran along through the middle stages and fanned wide turning into the straight, allowing Hugh Bowman to stick to the inside as they straightened. Bowman was able to go underneath many of his rivals, before bursting through a gap with 150m to run. He hit the front and pulled away from his rivals in the closing stages, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in good fashion.

Runner-Up: HONG KONG HALL was quickly away and rolled to the front under Zac Purton to lead the field heading off the back straight. The gelding was racing strongly out in front with Purton attempting to relax the gelding through the middle stages of the race. He was still travelling strongly as they turned for home and got a length in front of his rivals whilst still under restraint from Purton. He pushed the button and there was some response, but he couldn't fend off the winner who blew right by him. He did stick on well for second.

Run Of The Race: HONG KONG HALL is the one I want to follow out of this event. He was probably too keen in the run as Zac Purton tried to get the gelding to settle in running. Despite burning plenty of energy through the early stages, he did stick on well for second under the Australian's urgings. He's one to follow.

Disappointment: HAPPY SOUL was a touch slow into stride and raced near the tail of the field under Lyle Hewitson. He was never really in the hunt on straightening and although he made some ground to the line, he was just too far back to make an impression. He would end up 8-1/2 lengths away in 10th position.

Comparison: Outside the standard time.

Market Mover: FUN TOGETHER had good support late in betting.

Race 2 – Morningside And S.H. Ho Alumno Handicap, HK $810,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good

Time: 1:36.47 Standard Time: 1:35.30 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache

Winner: DRAGON PRIDE (AUS 6yo g Sebring – Lady Krovanh) was a touch slow away from his wide barrier and Zac Purton immediately cut across to try and obtain a position with cover. The Australian hoop was able to get into the three-wide trail as they settled into stride, sitting fourth-last as they turned off the back. Purton remained in that position around the turn before finally getting off heels and into the clear as they straightened for the judge. He quickened nicely at the top of the straight and ran on well down the centre of the track to hit the front 100m from home. He inched away from his rivals in the closing stages and while the official margin was only a half-length, he was holding his rivals comfortably at bay.

Runner-Up: HANG'S CHOICE got away on terms off the inside barrier and landed in a midfield position on settling down. Matthew Chadwick then improved with 1000m to run to sit three pairs back along the inside rail with the pace fair turning off the back. The local hoop was able to get off the inside as they turned into the straight and push his way into the clear down the middle of the track, taking the lead 200m from home. He was quickly joined by the eventual winner who proved too strong for him late, but Hang's Choice did fight on well to hold down second, with a further length back to third.

Run Of The Race: DRAGON PRIDE scored a strong win today and has to be followed when he rises back to Class 4 next start.

Disappointment: VUKAN enjoyed a lovely run in transit as he landed the one-out-one-back position for Derek Leung. As the pace slowed a touch around the turn, Leung shifted three-wide and began to work around the outside of the leaders approaching the 600m point. He went up to take the lead momentarily but was quickly gobbled up by his rivals and ended up in 7th position, beaten 3-3/4 lengths.

Comparison: Over a second outside standard time.

Market Mover: No real market moves with DRAGON PRIDE jumping the $3.80 favourite.

Race 3 – Graduate School Alumni Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:10.26 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

Winner: SPEEDY SMARTIE (NZ 3yo g Satono Aladdin – Lemonade) got away sharply off the inside and rolled to the lead as they turned off the back straight with a good tempo being set up front. He travelled comfortably under Zac Purton through the middle stages with not too much being poured on by his rivals. He and his main rival kicked clear from the rest of the field with 300m remaining and were in a ding-dong battle all the way up the straight. He was headed with 100m to run and was still behind with 50m remaining but fought back in shadows of the post to wrestle the lead back and score by a short head.

Runner-Up: MODULECONSTRUCTION was quickly away and rolled forward to settle on the outside of the leader. He didn't pressure the leader through the middle stages but it wasn't a picnic up front either with Matthew Chadwick eyeballing the leader. The pair turned into the straight together with Chadwick hitting the front a furlong from home. He was still in front 50m from the post but couldn't fight off one last challenge from Speedy Smartie and was forced to settle for second.

Run Of The Race: The first two across the line are worth following by SPEEDY SMARTIE just kept on running. A gutsy performance from the three-year-old.

Disappointment: CHILLI BABA settled in a midfield position under Vincent Ho and was racing three-wide with cover in the run. He found himself a long way off the leaders turning for home and although he stuck on fairly to the line, he was beaten 3-3/4 lengths to finish in 7th position.

Comparison: Outside standard time.

Market Mover: IMPERIAL MAGEE and TRUST ME were both specked late in betting.

Race 4 – Chung Chi Alumni Handicap, HK $810,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:23.59 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents

Winner: ERNEST FEELING (AUS 5yo g Epaulette – Melancolia) got away on terms but didn't have the pace to match it with the front runners in the early stages. He ended up settling a touch worse than midfield in the run and was left racing three-wide turning off the back but did have some cover through the middle stages. Antoine Hamelin was able to get a nice cart into the race from his position and peeled into the clear at the top of the straight. He ran on well to hit the front 50m from home but had the second placegetter breathing right down his neck as he took the lead. The five-year-old was able to hold on though, scoring a narrow victory by a short head in a close photo finish.

Runner-Up: WINWIN THIRTYTHREE didn't show much early speed as he settled near the tail of the field under Hugh Bowman. He was racing along the inside through the middle stages before beginning to peel wider on the track as he approached the 600m point. Bowman got onto the back of the eventual winner as they turned into the straight and spent much of the concluding stages trying to reel in Ernest Feeling. He was right there over the final 100m in a real tussle to the line, but he couldn't stick his nose in front over the final stages.

Run Of The Race: ERNEST FEELING held on gamely to the line after sitting wide in the run.

Disappointment: FORTUNE MASTER jumped well from barrier 13 and Zac Purton was able to get into a brilliant position from the draw, sitting just off the leader. He began to improve his position as they turned for home but the gelding didn't offer much of a response when Purton pressed the button. Purton eased up on the gelding with 150m to run, finishing in 12th place and beaten 13 lengths. 

Comparison: Outside standard.

Market Mover: SPICY SKEWER, ERNEST FEELING and HUNKY DORY were all specked at double figure odds.

Race 5 – New Asia Alumni Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:22.73 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair

Winner: LOST CHILD (NZ 3yo g Swiss Ace – Loch Leven) got away well and showed nice early toe to settle into a midfield position with cover under Hugh Bowman. The field split in two as they approached the 800m point and Bowman found himself in the first half, with the pace then beginning to slow around the home turn. Bowman was already niggling at the three-year-old as they turned for home and was able to get into the clear with ease at the top of the straight. The gelding stuck on impressively down the centre of the track to take the lead 50m from home and score by a neck on the line.

Runner-Up: ARIEL jumped quickly and rolled forward under Zac Purton to sit in second position on settling down. The leader was about a length in front as they turned off the back with Purton using him as a bunny through the middle stages, sitting off the leader before working into the race heading for home. He ambled up under a strong hold and took the lead 250m from home when Purton pressured the button. He couldn't hold off the winner though who had all the momentum coming down the outside.

Run Of The Race: ARIEL did well to get across and his racing pattern should hold him in good stead going forward. He was only narrowly beaten today but can notch up another win very soon.

Disappointment: GALLANT HERO just got too far back in the run and was never a threat. He closed off well in the final stages but still ended up in 8th, beaten 6-1/4 lengths.

Comparison: Well outside standard.

Market Mover: GENERAL WINNER had plenty of money come his way late in betting.

Race 6 – United Alumni Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good

Time: 1:36.15 Standard Time: 1:35.10 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky

Winner: FOREVER FOLKS (AUS 4yo g Tavistock – Tempting Delight) was a touch slow into stride but was able to slide into a midfield position from the barrier under Antoine Hamelin. The pace was good through the early and middle stages as the field stretched out heading off the back, before the slowing pace bunched the field up again with 600m to run. The Frenchman got a dream run into the straight, keeping his momentum up and racing with cover as they swung into the straight. Hamelin got into the clear near the centre of the track, but was running around a bit under pressure. He finally knuckled down and hit the front 50m from home, proving too strong late in the race to score by three-quarters of-a-length.

Runner-Up: OWNERS' PRAISE jumped with the field but didn't show much early pace off the inside barrier with Zac Purton taking a trailing position early on in the race. The champion hoop settled midfield on the odds-on favourite and looked to be in a great spot as they worked off the back. Purton was able to burrow through along the inside, improving his position around the turn and getting a saloon passage early in the straight. Purton got a dream run into the clear with 250m remaining and momentarily hit the front 150m from the finish. The winner had all the momentum down the outside though and ran over the top of him late, but Owners' Praise did put a nice gap back to third.

Run Of The Race: FOREVER FOLKS was big odds in today's race but got a beautiful run in transit, before finishing strongly to get the job done. It was the gelding's first win in Hong Kong and it'll be interesting to see if he can go on with the job.

Disappointment: EIGHTEEN PALMS finished in a dead heat for 10th position. He looked to be racing in a brilliant position in behind the leading pair for Vincent Ho, but came under pressure a long way from the finish. He looked to be making good ground early in the straight, but was tightened for room badly 300m form home and lost plenty of momentum in the process. He was unable to pick himself back up from that point and finished 8-3/4 lengths back in 10th.

Comparison: Over a second outside standard.

Market Mover: No market moves as Owners' Praise jumped the $1.90 favourite.

Race 7 – The CUHK Alumni Cup (Handicap), HK $1,725,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:09.56 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The WInner

Winner: EXCELLENT FIGHTER (AUS 4yo g Hinchinbrook – Whitney) got away well and landed in a great position without having to work too hard, sitting one-out-one-back under Silvestre De Sousa. He travelled comfortably through the middle stages but was pushed three-wide as they began the turn for home, with De Sousa already hard at work on the galloper. Despite looking as though he was going backwards at the top of the straight, he took the lead with 100m to run and was doing his best work over the closing stages, pulling away in the final 50m to score by a length in a great effort.

Runner-Up: MARK THE MOMENT was one of the first out of the machine but didn't have the early pace to lead, with Alex Badel taking a sit on the leader's back through the middle stages. The Frenchman pushed the eventual winner wider on the track as he got off the rail, getting a great run into the straight. He took the lead with 150m to run but couldn't hold off the eventual winner who fought back late in the race. He held on to second position in a photo finish.

Run Of The Race: EXCELLENT FIGHTER is a progressive horse on the rise and looks as though he would relish the step up in trip when he gets there. Already a winner of 3 races from 5 starts, but the way he is racing looks as though 1400m would be right up his alley.

Disappointment: COLOURFUL EMPEROR led the field in the run and was running along at a quick tempo in doing so. He was quickly collared early on in the straight, but to the gelding's credit he hung in there until the 100m point. He then weakened over the closing stages to finish in 8th place, beaten 3-1/4 lengths.

Comparison: Outside standard.

Market Mover: Again, no market moves to speak of with EXCELLENT FIGHTER jumping favourite at $2.10.

Race 8 – Shaw Alumni, HK $1,725,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good

Time: 56.31 Standard Time: 56.20 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior

Winner: FLYING HIGH (AUS 5yo g Office Bearer – Belle Laude) was a little awkward into stride and settled near the tail of the field in the run, being the closest to the outside rail with only a couple behind him. He was still 6 lengths off the leader who was burning along out in front with 400m to run, but was improving his position as they got into the concluding stages, with Matthew Chadwick working his way into the clear with 200m to run. He quickened well when Chadwick pressed the button and ran down the leader in the final couple of strides, scoring by a neck in a great effort.

Runner-Up: CHEVAL VALIANT was one of the first into stride and rolled straight to the front as usual under Angus Chung. He was freewheeling out in front, opening up a big gap back to the rest of the field as they linked up with the course proper. He was still going well with 200m to run and was responding well to the urgings of Chung, but couldn't hold off the winner who nabbed him in the final few strides. The first pair did clear out from the rest of the field, with third horse finishing 3 lengths away.

Run Of The Race: CHEVAL VALIANT continues to put in brilliant performances from the front and today was no different. He was only gunned down late in the race and the big gap back to third is a positive sign moving forward. He hasn't drawn favourably for some time, but watch out when he does.

Disappointment: No disappointments in this event.

Comparison: Just outside standard.

Market Mover: Plenty of market moves in this race. PLEASANT ENDEAVOUR and CHEVAL VALIANT had solid backing, while CALIFORNIA RAD and FLYING HIGH were specked at double figures.

Race 9 – Wu Yee Sun Alumni Handicap, HK $1,900,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good

Time: 1:35.84 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit

Winner: CHING (NZ 4yo g Frosted – Darci Dancer) was only fairly away from the barriers and settled in the back half of the field early on with not much pace on offer. The pace quickened once they sorted their positions with the leader taking off out in front and setting some solid sectionals from the front. Lyle Hewitson was unable to get to the outside as they turned for home, with the South African having to dart back to the inside early in the straight to obtain clear running. He was able to avoid traffic and get into his work, hitting top gear late and running over the top of the leader close to home, scoring by a neck in comfortable fashion.

Runner-Up: PEGASUS HERO was away well off the inside barrier and landed in a midfield position under Vagner Borges. He travelled comfortably through the middle stages and with the field fanning wide on the turn, Borges was able to slide underneath runners and into the clear at the top of the straight without much hassle getting off the inside rail. The gelding quickened well to hit the front a furlong from home but was running about under pressure a touch. He hung in there for a long time but ultimately couldn't fend off the winner who looks a very classy animal.

Run Of The Race: What a performance from PEGASUS HERO. The Brazilian G1 winner over 2000m put in the best run of his HK career at massive odds of $184. It was a big improvement on recent starts and the fitter and further he steps out in distance, the more he may improve.

Disappointment: No disappointments in this event.

Comparison: Well outside standard.

Market Mover: SINBA and HAPPY TOGETHER were both backed late in betting.

Race 10 – Faculty Of Education Alumni Handicap, HK $1,725,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:22.22 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

Winner: DROMBEG BANNER (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Drombeg Dawn) wasn't the fastest into stride but mustered good pace to roll across from barrier 10 and take up the running under Angus Chung. The gelding was left alone out in front but was setting a good tempo in the process, putting the apprentice claim to good use. He had plenty of rivals off the bit and chasing as they turned for home, but the four-year-old kicked clear at the top of the straight to put a length on his rivals. He dug deep under Chung who rode him to perfection, getting the win just as the second placegetter lunged at him late.

Runner-Up: SOLID IMPACT got away well and was another who worked forward from the draw, settling on the back of the leader and eventual winner as the got into stride. Hugh Bowman stuck to the back of the leader on straightening and looked to be travelling well as he came off heels to challenge for the win. He wasn't making too much ground when he first popped out, but under the urgings of Bowman the gelding was coming hard at a tired Drombeg Banner in the shadows of the post. But he couldn't stick his nose in front, finishing second by a head.

Run Of The Race: DROMBEG BANNER rolled to the front and was ridden brilliantly by Angus Chung. The apprentice claim came in handy, and the gelding is now a two-time winner in Hong Kong. He can rise in grade next time out and be right there at the finish again.

Disappointment: JUMBO LEGEND settled in the second half of the field under Alex Badel and was forced to stick to the inside when the field turned into the straight. He had plenty of galloping room, but was unable to make any ground on the leaders and Badel eased up on the gelding inside the final furlong, riding hands and heels to the finish where he was 12th across the line, beaten 8-1/2 lengths. A post-race veterinary exam revealed the gelding to be a 'roarer'.

Comparison: Just outside standard.

Market Mover: BEAUTY MISSILE had good support late in betting.