Recap by phillip woo

Secret Sham went forward out deep from a wide gate to find the front 950m out, cornered a length on top and kept finding to score an upset win. Real Specialist settled one off the fence in midfield, swung the final bend with two wider out and finished well to make it close. Exciting Dream settled third from the rear along the rails, angled into the open five deep at the 350m and finished nicely. Rewarding Hero made a good bid widest out early straight after travelling beyond midfield but peaked on his run 100m out carrying top weight. Super Lifeline kept plugging away without menacing following a one-off run in second. All You Wish made some ground from the tail of the field without threatening. Odds-on favourite Not Listenin'tome eased back to settle three back along the fence, stayed near the inside upon straightening and failed to lift with every conceivable chance with a step up in distance. Diving Calling took the sit after leading early on, came three deep upon straightening and only held his ground. Charles The Great never ran on from the back.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (696)-THE PRINCE JEWELLERY & WATCH PREMIER CUP (HANDICAP) - Hong Kong Group Three - 1400Metres

From a wide barrier, CHARLES THE GREAT (G Mosse) was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Passing the 1100 Metres, CHARLES THE GREAT got its head up when proving very difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of REWARDING HERO.

After this, CHARLES THE GREAT continued to prove difficult to settle, became unbalanced and shifted out away from the heels of REWARDING HERO making the turn near the 900 Metres.

After the race, G Mosse reported that because of the manner in which CHARLES THE GREAT over-raced in the early and middle stages, the horse was then not able to finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of CHARLES THE GREAT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

When questioned regarding the performance of NOT LISTENIN'TOME, J Moreira stated that after following DIVINE CALLING throughout the race, he was able to improve his position rounding the Home Turn when that horse shifted away from the rail near the 500 Metres.

He said whilst NOT LISTENIN'TOME did quicken well in the early part of the Straight, it did not show a sufficient turn of foot to be able to improve its position on the winner SECRET SHAM in the Straight.

He added whilst NOT LISTENIN'TOME appeared disappointing, he felt that the tempo of the race did not suit the horse as, in his opinion, it is better when able to sit behind a more genuine tempo.

A veterinary inspection of NOT LISTENIN'TOME including an endoscopic examination immediately following the race revealed the horse to have inflamed laryngeal cartilages.

A veterinary inspection of ALL YOU WISH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on DIVINE CALLING at the request of Trainer A T Millard.

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

Before being allowed to race again, DIVINE CALLING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

NOT LISTENIN'TOME, SECRET SHAM and REAL SPECIALIST were sent for sampling.