Recap by phillip woo

Plunged late to jump favourite, Vara Pearl sat on the back of the speed after leading early on, worked to the front three deep at the 150m and held off the late surge of Elegance Klammer for an overdue win at his 10th outing with a switch to the Valley. Elegance Klammer settled behind midfield and one off the rails, shifted out four deep upon straightening and finished nicely to make it close at the wire. Genuine Champion ran on steadily despite hanging out under pressure after settling one off in midfield to just snatch a placing from Medic Kingdom, who kept on reasonably well despite having to work hard out deep to eventually lead at the 1,100m. Early favourite Southern Springs only held his ground with every chance following a rail's run in midfield. Endorsing coursed widest out upon straightening and was getting going late without menacing. Cool Bean had all ahead of him coming to the final bend, had to check badly when shifting out for a run at the 300m and kept on evenly thereafter.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (230)-LONGINES INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHAMPIONSHIP (HANDICAP)- 3RD LEG (Sec1) - Class 4 - 1650Metres

ENDORSING was slow to begin.

FIVE STEP began only fairly.

Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, GENUINE CHAMPION was awkwardly placed outside the heels of VARA PEARL.

Near the 900 Metres, FIVE STEP was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SOUTHERN SPRINGS.

Also near the 900 Metres, COOL BEAN, which was proving difficult to settle, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of GLORY OF LONGWAH.

Passing the 600 Metres, GENUINE CHAMPION raced tight between VARA PEARL and HEAVENISARACEHORSE which was taken in by MAZANDARAN (R Hughes).

R Hughes was advised to exercise more care.

Making the turn near the 550 Metres, COOL BEAN became unbalanced after laying in towards the heels of ELEGANCE KLAMMER.

Approaching and passing the 400 Metres, GENUINE CHAMPION raced in restricted room between HEAVENISARACEHORSE and VARA PEARL which, over some distance, worked its way to the outside of MEDIC KINGDOM.

Rounding the Home Turn, GENUINE CHAMPION was held up when awkwardly placed behind MAZANDARAN.

GENUINE CHAMPION then had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight.

In the early part of the Straight, SOUTHERN SPRINGS improved into tight running inside MEDIC KINGDOM.

Near the 250 Metres, VARA PEARL momentarily raced tight between MEDIC KINGDOM and NOVEL START which shifted in.

For some distance near the 200 Metres, COOL BEAN was severely checked when disappointed for running between HEAVENISARACEHORSE which shifted out when giving ground and GLORY OF LONGWAH.

As the Stewards were of the opinion that COOL BEAN had not established a position to the outside of HEAVENISARACEHORSE at the time that that horse shifted out slightly, no further action was taken.

Passing the 150 Metres, HEAVENISARACEHORSE, which was continuing to give ground, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of MAZANDARAN which was also giving ground.

For the majority of the race, MAZANDARAN travelled wide and without cover.

After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on ELEGANCE KLAMMER at the request of Trainer C W Chang.

The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

Before being allowed to race again, ELEGANCE KLAMMER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of HEAVENISARACEHORSE and COOL BEAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

VARA PEARL and ELEGANCE KLAMMER were sent for sampling.