Recap by phillip woo

In a start-stop sort of race where the lead changed hands three times, the late-plunged favourite Jun Huo was able to pull clear after rolling forward four deep from midfield to find the front one off the fence at the 800m and produce an overdue winner for jockey Douglas Whyte. Little Dragon eased back to travelled one off in midfield following an alert break, eased into the open with three wider out at the 250m and closed off nicely to grab second in the final few metres. Vanilla bided his time third from the rear from an outside gate, improved his position widest out coming to the final bend and finished off well to make it close for second. Northern Falls was headed for the lead 800m out and kept on gamely to just lose a placing in the final few 10m. Noble Alpha kept up a steady gallop two from the outside following a deep run with cover worse than midfield to just miss a Quartet spot. Executive Mandate got going from the back at the 800m to sit handy without cover coming to the final bend and came up one-paced over the final 200m. Trump got going 850m out after a deep run in midfield to dispute second at the 600m, pulled near level at the 350m and was yielding ground 150m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (317)-JOCKEY CLUB ROAD HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Metres

GOLDLAND DANCER blundered badly on jumping, causing its rider to become unbalanced and for the horse to lose a considerable amount of ground.

From the outside barrier, VANILLA was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, HORSE APLENTY failed to muster speed.

Passing the 1500 Metres, TRUMP (S de Sousa) got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of JUN HUO, resulting in the horse being awkwardly placed.

S de Sousa advised that TRUMP was inclined to lay out and proved difficult to ride throughout the race.

JUN HUO travelled wide and without cover and passing the 900 Metres was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead.

Passing the 800 Metres, GOLDLAND DANCER became unbalanced when being steadied away from the heels of VICTORY MASTER.

Making the turn near the 700 Metres, VANILLA got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of HORSE APLENTY.

Passing the 600 Metres, YOUNG RANGER got its head up when racing close to the heels of TRUMP.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of TIANHUANG, Y T Cheng stated that after being slow to begin, he rode his mount along in an endeavour to make up lost ground, however, TIANHUANG would not respond to his riding and remained racing at the rear of the field.

He said along the Back Straight he again rode his mount along, particularly after the 900 Metres as TIANHUANG was getting out of its ground.

He said, despite being hard ridden for the remainder of the race, TIANHUANG would not improve its position, was reluctant to race and only passed a limited number of tired horses over the concluding stages.

A veterinary inspection of TIANHUANG immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

The performance of TIANHUANG was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, TIANHUANG will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of YOUNG RANGER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

JUN HUO and LITTLE DRAGON were sent for sampling.