Race 1 – Sutherland Handicap, HK $810,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:10.39 Standard Time: 1:09.70 Course/Class record: 1:08.64

Winner: ACA POWER (AUS 6yo g Zoffany – Lavender Bay) was the last out of the barriers under Hugh Bowman and was running last in the early stages. The Australian hoop was able to improve his position slightly along the rail turning off the back, and was travelling strongly through the middle stages of the race. Bowman had all the luck in the world early in the straight, with the gelding going through gaps under his own steam. He quickened powerfully when Bowman finally pressed the button and he shot through to take the lead with 50m to run, scoring comfortably by a neck.

Runner-Up: TAKINGUFURTHER jumped on terms and was ridden along out of the barriers to try and make use of the inside barrier, scooting through the inside to hold a position on the back of the leader. He travelled comfortably through the middle stages but took a while to get going when Luke Ferraris began to ramp up the pressure turning for home. Ferraris was forced back to the inside rail as the gelding began to let rip, coming through at the same time as the winner. He went close, but the winner was finishing the stronger.

Run Of The Race: ACA POWER had plenty of luck in running, but it still took a decent horse to run through those gaps and get the job done.

Disappointment: ALLOY STAR raced near the back of the field throughout the race, racing strongly under Karis Teetan through the middle stages. He had no luck in the straight as Teetan tried to weave his way into the clear, halting his momentum badly on a number of occasions, with the gelding unable to get going again. He would end up in 9th place, beaten 3-3/4 lengths.

Comparison: Well outside the standard time.

Market Mover: YOUNG HORIZON and FANTASY SPRING had good support at double figure odds.

Race 2 – Wing Lok Handicap, HK $810,000

Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good

Time: 1:35.86 Standard Time: 1:35.30 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache

Winner: STAR OF GLORY (AUS 6yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Sunday Lady) got away impressively from an outside barrier and was able to slide across from an outside barrier, initially sitting outside the leader before taking a trailing position. Angus Chung stayed off the rail and in the one-out-one-back position, stalking the leading pair through the middle stages as they slowed the tempo. He moved three-wide swinging for home and quickened well under the apprentice's urgings, hitting the front inside the final 300m. He had a couple of rivals coming at him late in the race, but he seemed to be holding them comfortably as he went on to score by a neck.

Runner-Up: MURRAY'S PARTNERS wasn't the best away from the barriers and took some urging along by Karis Teetan to muster pace after the jump. The gelding was able to work through from barrier 2 into a midfield position, racing along the inside rail as they turned off the back stretch. With the field fanning, Teetan was able to extricate off the rail with ease and had ample room to make a run at victory. The gelding let down well over the concluding stages to make a lunge at the winner, but he was unable to reel him in as Teetan was forced to settle for second position.

Run Of The Race: It was a beautiful steer by Angus Chung aboard STAR OF GLORY, getting across from the outside draw to then settle in the prime position in running. It proved the difference as he was unable to be run down.

Disappointment: STAR OF YUEN LONG was able to land in a brilliant position under Hugh Bowman, settling on the back of the eventual winner in running in a midfield position. Bowman peeled wide turning into the straight and the gelding looked as though he would play a part in the finish, but he was very plain in the run to the line, finishing 7th and beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

Comparison: Half a second outside standard.

Market Mover: STAR OF GLORY and MOONLUCK both had specking at double figures.

Race 3 – Belcher Bay Handicap, HK $2,640,000

Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:21.66 Standard Time: 1:21.40 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure

Winner: CIRCUIT STELLAR (IRE 5yo g Mehmas – Lillebonne) got away well off the inside barrier and burrowed through to hold the lead as the field sorted their order out. The gelding was pretty keen in the early stages, but settled back underneath Purton much better as they turned off the back stretch. He swung into the straight and was travelling much better than most of his rivals and he kicked clear with 100m to run. He looked to be running out of gas close to the line, but he'd built a big enough lead early in the straight and was able to hold on for victory by a neck.

Runner-Up: WINNING METHOD was a touch awkward into stride and took a trailing position on the back of the leader in running. Jerry Chau was right on the leader's hammer through the middle stages and got off the inside and into the clear as they turned into the straight. He copped some contact early in the straight, but fought through that to make a charge at the leader in the closing stages. He was unable to peg back the margin though and finished in second place, just getting the nod in a photo finish.

Run Of The Race: CIRCUIT STELLAR was able to lead all they way, but I wouldn't say he had it all his own way as he ran along at solid fractions throughout. He was vulnerable late but had the class to do the work early in the race, to make the ending easier for himself.

Disappointment: There were no disappointments in this event as they all ran to expectations.

Comparison: Just outside standard.

Market Mover: CIRCUIT STELLAR was backed into an odds-on quote, jumping the $1.80 favourite.

Race 4 – Ko Shing Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:09.59 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

Winner: LASER VICTORY (AUS 3yo g Brazen Beau – Testa The Water) jumped on terms from the outside barrier and showed plenty of pace from the outset, rushing around the field to lead into the first turn. He kept them running through the middle stages and Zac Purton had the field strung out turning for home, with many of his rivals under pressure at the top of the straight. Purton had a strong hold of the three-year-old though and he only pressed the button with 300m left to run. He just kept on running under the urgings of Purton, scoring an impressive debut victory by 1-1/4 lengths.

Runner-Up: SOARING TOWER jumped on terms but didn't have the pace to match in the early stages, settling midfield as the pack split in two. Vagner Borges found himself in no mans land as they turned off the back straight and still found himself 4-1/2 lengths off the leader with 400m remaining. Borges got out toward the centre of the track on straightening and ran on powerfully down the middle, giving Purton some think about in the closing stages, but he couldn't bridge back the margin.

Run Of The Race: What a debut performance from LASER VICTORY. The early pace he possesses will hold him in good stead going forward and although he was getting a little tired close to the finish, he's one to keep following.

Disappointment: CALL ME DANDY settled in a stalking position just off the leader as they sorted their order out and looked to be coming into the race nicely at the top of the straight. He couldn't sustain the effort though, weakening out of contention to finish back in 10th, beaten 5-3/4 lengths.

Comparison: Just outside standard.

Market Mover: HAPPY TRIO had good support, while OVER THE MOON was also backed.

Race 5 – Lyttelton Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:08.90 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour

Winner: ADEFILL (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Dijonnaise) got away on terms and was ridden along from the outside barrier to find a prominent position in running. Karis Teetan was unable to slide across with cover and was left racing three-wide up on the pace. That didn't bother him though as he scooted around the field to hit the front 250m from home and sprinted away impressively. He shot clear to score by a whopping 6-1/4 lengths.

Runner-Up: HAPPY TANGO was one of the first into stride and showed plenty of pace to lead the field on settling down. They weren't hanging about in the run and he looked as though he would begin to drop back on straightening with Keith Yeung beginning to ramp up the pressure. The winner gave him windburn as he blew past, but the gelding stuck on solidly to run hold onto second position in a gutsy effort.

Run Of The Race: You'll struggle to find a more impressive win that ADEFILL. Wow, sitting three-wide off a hot tempo and putting his rivals to the sword. That was very impressive.

Disappointment: COLOUFUL PRINCE missed the start badly and was hard ridden to pick himself up and find a position. Antoine Hamelin was able to burrow along the inside rail and get onto the leader's back on settling down, but the energy used at the start cost him at the finish. He came under pressure a long way from home and couldn't finish off the race, crossing the line in last place and beaten 15-3/4 lengths.

Comparison: Inside standard time.

Market Mover: COLOURFUL PRINCE had solid support late in betting, while SUMMIT CHEERS and CHARMING STEED had support at longer odds.

Race 6 – Rumsey Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:22.54 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair

Winner: RUN RUN BUDDY (AUS 4yo g Kuroshio – Pride Of Ardrossan) jumped well off the inside and rolled straight to the front with ease under Derek Leung. He was allowed to do as he pleased in front, cruising along at a good pace. The damage was done between the 400m and the 200m where he let rip with a blistering sectional, leaving his rivals in his wake, bursting 2 lengths clear. There was a rival coming out after him late in the race, but the win was never in doubt as he led all the way and scored by 1-1/4 lengths.

Runner-Up: SMILING COLLECTOR drifted back shortly after the jump to settle worse than midfield under Luke Ferraris. He enjoyed a solid run in transit as he raced between horses and was able to work his way into the clear at the top of the straight. He let down well out in the centre of the track, running home into a clear second position and eating into the leader's margin. He was just too far back to have a crack at the win.

Run Of The Race: RUN RUN BUDDY was superb out in front, kicking away off a solid tempo to score, but the run of SIMILING COLLECTOR has to be mentioned as well. He steamed home form the rear and must be followed wherever he goes.

Disappointment: FORERUNNER wasn't the fastest into stride but improved into a good position on settling down. Hugh Bowman looked to have plenty of horse underneath him on straightening, but when the Australian hoop asked for an effort, the gelding was very plain in the run to the line. He finished in 9th, beaten 5-1/2 lengths.

Comparison: Outside standard.

Market Mover: SPEED FAY FAY had good support along with YOUNG VICTORY and HELENE WISDOM STAR. BILLIONAIRE SECRET also had fans at longer odds.

Race 7 – Cleverly Handicap, HK $1,725,000

Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:09.08 Standard Time: 1:08.60 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love

Winner: FLYING DRAGON (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Crepe de Chine) pinged out of the barriers and was up front early on, easing across to sit outside the leader as they turned off the back straight. He travelled comfortably around the turn and the pressure began to ramp up on straightening, looking as though he was about to weaken out of the race, but he continued to dig deep. He just kept on running, running over the top of the leader in the final few strides and scoring by a neck in a gutsy display.

Runner-Up: FIERY DIAMOND wasn't the quickest out of the barriers but mustered well to press on and take the lead heading off the back stretch. Jerry Chau was able to cross down to the rail and control the race around the turn, slowing the tempo before kicking away again at the top of the straight. He looked to be travelling the best early in the straight and was sticking on well inside the final furlong. He just began to tire in the concluding stages and was unable to hold off the winner who just wouldn't go away.

Run Of The Race: FLYING DRAGON just would not go away. He crossed to sit outside the leader and looked gone at the top of the straight. He continued to dig deep though and reeled in the leader late in the race to score.

Disappointment: LIGHTNING BOLT got back in the run and had absolutely no luck in the straight, being held up behind runner for the majority of the straight. Hugh Bowman only got through in the final 100m and ran into 6th, beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

Comparison: Outside standard time.

Market Mover: MAN STAR and FLYING DRAGOn were both well-backed.

Race 8 – Rumsey Handicap, HK $1,080,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:22.39 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair

Winner: OWNERS' PRAISE (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Cincinnati Gal) got away with the field but was immediately snagged back to the tail of the field by Derek Leung. The pace was good early on as the field tried to sort their order out, with the gelding finding himself 9-3/4 lengths off the lead turning off the back. The pace slowed through the middle stages with the field packing up and spreading wide turning into the straight. Leung was able to save some ground closer to the inside, before getting out into the clear beyond the centre of the track. He ran over the top to hit the front 50m from home and was too strong at the finish, coming out on top by a length.

Runner-Up: BULB PRINCE was another who drifted back from a wide draw, settling in the back half of the field, and finding himself a long way off the leader turning off the back straight. He was already being scrubbed along around the turn, but was improving his position under Vagner Borges along the inside rail. Borges was able to slide his way from the rail out wide and into the clear at the top of the straight and was closing off well down the centre. The winner ran straight past him late in the race, but it was a solid effort to run into second place.

Run Of The Race: OWNERS' PRAISE was fantastic in the closing stages. He was simply too strong in the final 100m as he ran right over the top of his rivals. FAST BUCK stuck on well after setting a good tempo as well and in a run with plenty of merit.

Disappointment: HOLY POWER was caught up in the speed battle early on and couldn't match it at the finish, tiring to finish 8th, beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

Comparison: Outside standard.

Market Mover: LET'S DO IT and OWNERS' PRAISE had plenty of support.

Race 9 – Hillier Handicap, HK $1,900,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good

Time: 1:48.47 Standard Time: 1:47.75 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever

Winner: WOODFIRE BRO (NZ 4yo g Echoes Of Heaven – Pico Turquino) got away well from a middle alley and rolled forward to be up on the pace, getting across to sit outside of the leader. The pace was good through the opening stages but slowed as the field sorted their order out, with the leaders hitting the brakes turning off the back. Leung got going before the turn, upping his momentum heading into the straight and taking the lead shortly after straightening. Champion Dragon loomed up on his outside, but he was always in front and dug deep in a ding-dong battle to the finish. He was able to hold off the favourite in the dying stages, getting the job done in a photo finish.

Runner-Up: CHAMPION DRAGON jumped well off the inside but didn't press too hard to hold the lead as Angus Chung took a trailing position on the back of the leader. He probably wasn't suited when the leader took the pace out of the race, but was able to stick with them and get off the rail as they turned for home. The gelding was there to win if he was good enough, but was unable to get the better of the eventual winner who always looked to have his measure.

Run Of The Race: WOODFIRE BRO did well early on to get across and sit outside the leader and showed plenty of strength to hold off the challenger right down the straight. ROUND THE EARTH deserves some credit too. He was well back and unsuited by the way the race was run, but charged home to only be beaten a neck.

Disappointment: QUANTUM PATCH found himself in a midfield position in running under Zac Purton. He wasn't completely unsuited by the tempo change and Zac Purton got the gelding rolling into the straight out wide on the course, but he was unable to finish off the race as expected. He went to the line finishing in 10th place and beaten only 2 lengths.

Comparison: Way outside standard.

Market Mover: PEGASUS GENERAL had support at long odds.

Race 10 – Des Voeux Handicap, HK $1,725,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:21.55 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

Winner: BEAUTY ETERNAL (AUS 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Ithacan Queen) got away well off the inside barrier and was running up front early in the race, before runners from wider out came across. Zac Purton was happy to take up a stalking role in third on the back of the leader as the pace continued to be genuine through the middle stages. The champion jockey was able to get off the rail and track one of his main dangers into the race heading into the straight, popping three-wide to mount his challenge. It was ominous signs as the gelding ambled up to join the leading pair, before exploding away when Purton gave him a squeeze. It was all over at the furlong pole as the Hong Kong Derby hopeful shot clear to score by 1-3/4 lengths in very easy fashion.

Runner-Up: SOLAR WINDS wasn't the fastest out of the barriers but Vincent Ho was able to work his way into a midfield position on settling down, improving along the inside rail. He was racing a touch keen as they turned off the back straight with the local jockey able to relax the gelding before working his way into the clear on straightening. He was no match for the winner who is a class above, but he close off strongly to claim second position in a solid run.

Run Of The Race: Many people are wondering where the Derby horse is going to come from as the Hong Kong Classic Mile failed to resolve any problems. Many had BEAUTY ETERNAL as their pick and well, judging by what he did today, he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

Disappointment: MAJESTIC COLOUR rolled into the straight on the outside of the leader and looked to be travelling well, but found nothing when Derek Leung asked for an effort. He weakened out of the race to finish 9th, beaten 4-3/4 lengths.

Comparison: Inside standard time.

Market Mover: All the money came for BEAUTY ETERNAL who jumped a $1.30 favourite.