Recap by phillip woo

Ride With The Wind was ridden a distant last from gate 12, angled into the clear with two wider out at the 200m and outdashed the late-fancied Wrath Of Fire to get up in the shadows of the post for the win. Wrath Of Fire recovered to travel second from the rear after bombing the start by three lengths, swung the final bend with one wider out and finished to make it a blanket finish on the wire. Bullish Smart had to check at the 850m when handing up the front to Horse Aplenty 1,100m out, advanced to the front four deep at the 220m and was swamped late. Agiaal peaked on his run 50m out after making a good bid with two wider out in the drive from midfield. Late-fancied favourite Redwood Baby was getting going late near the inside after travelling third from the rear. He was not suited by ground conditions with a bias towards the outside. Early favourite Dalwari ran on steadily without menacing five deep following a run along the rails behind midfield. Horse Aplenty was nearly a length on top rounding the final bend and could not keep up the gallop 150m out. Eton Blitz was able to land a nice spot effectively one-out, one-back, cornered five deep and was yielding ground approaching the 200m mark.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (173)-THE AMERICAN CLUB CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 3 - 1800Metres

FANTASTIC KAKA was withdrawn on 17.11.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore mouth) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter WRATH OF FIRE.

Before being allowed to race again, FANTASTIC KAKA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

WRATH OF FIRE was slow to begin.

From the outside barrier, RIDE WITH THE WIND was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Near the 1300 Metres, TAKE TO THE LIMIT was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1000 Metres was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead near the 800 Metres.

Near the 1000 Metres, DR GOOD HABIT was checked away from the heels of CARTOON FAY FAY when proving difficult to settle.

DALWARI, which was following, shifted out away from the heels of DR GOOD HABIT in consequence and hampered HOLMES LEGEND.

Then near the 900 Metres, DALWARI was crowded for room inside HOLMES LEGEND which shifted in before being directed back out to relieve the tightening to DALWARI.

REDWOOD BABY, which was following DALWARI, was hampered in consequence.

Passing the 900 Metres, BULLISH SMART, which commenced to prove very difficult to settle, was shifted out away from the heels of HORSE APLENTY (H W Lai) which at this time slackened the tempo.

As BULLISH SMART shifted out away from the heels of HORSE APLENTY, it was checked when crowded for room between HORSE APLENTY and TAKE TO THE LIMIT which had commenced to shift in to race outside HORSE APLENTY prior to BULLISH SMART shifting out.

H W Lai was severely reprimanded and told that whilst the Stewards were mindful of the racing manners of BULLISH SMART at this time, nonetheless the manner in which he had steadied the tempo had contributed to this incident.

He was advised to ensure that he does not slacken the tempo of races to the extent where it causes interference to runners behind.

Passing the 800 Metres.

ETON BLITZ was steadied away from the heels of TAKE TO THE LIMIT which shifted in.

Near the 700 Metres, HOLMES LEGEND was left racing wide and without cover.

Near the 500 Metres, REDWOOD BABY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DALWARI.

Passing the 400 Metres, CARTOON FAY FAY raced tight inside BULLISH SMART when improving into tight running inside that horse which at that time was attempting to improve into a narrow run between HORSE APLENTY and TAKE TO THE LIMIT.

Near the 250 Metres, REDWOOD BABY was momentarily crowded inside CARTOON FAY FAY when improving into tight running inside that horse.

Approaching the 200 Metres, DALWARI was shifted away from the heels of TAKE TO THE LIMIT after being awkwardly placed behind that horse which was giving ground.

Then near the 100 Metres, DALWARI was awkwardly placed inside the heels of AGIAAL.

Right on the finishing line, AGIAAL raced tight between BULLISH SMART and RIDE WITH THE WIND (C Y Ho) which got its head on the side and shifted in under pressure.

C Y Ho was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care.

A veterinary inspection of ETON BLITZ immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse's trachea.

A veterinary inspection of DR GOOD HABIT and HORSE APLENTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

REDWOOD BABY, RIDE WITH THE WIND and WRATH OF FIRE were sent for sampling.