Recap by phillip woo

Great Toplight settled fourth along the fence, eased into the pen four deep upon straightening, swept to the front 140m out and held off favourite Super Sprinter for the win. Super Sprinter recovered after a sluggish break to travelling midfield along the fence, pulled off heels for a clear run four deep at the 180m and finished nicely thereafter. He remains one to follow. Rising Power came from well back widest out after a slow break to get up strongly for third. Plunged late, Cash Courier closed off nicely three deep after coming to the final bend third from the rear to just grab a Quartet spot. Spinning Dancer settled one off the fence in midfield, rounded the final bend six deep and ran on steadily to make it close for fourth. Win It pressed forward to sit outside leader Sparkling Sword 1,200m out, assumed the lead 200m out and was stopping 100m out. Specked late, Mac Row made his run three deep with cover travelling fourth from the rear, was held up until peeling into the open 130m out and should have finished closer. Sparkling Sword was retreating 200m out. Star Of Bond was gone a long ways out after sitting one off the fence behind the leaders. Oscar Miracle was never involved.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (614)-HEREFORD HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Metres

SPINNING DANCER began awkwardly.

SUPER SPRINTER was slow to begin.

RISING POWER began awkwardly and lost ground.

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

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, MY LEGEND and WIN IT bumped, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.

Near the 1400 Metres, when being steadied to allow SPARKLING SWORD to cross, GREAT TOPLIGHT got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle.

Then for some distance after the 1200 Metres, GREAT TOPLIGHT was steadied when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPARKLING SWORD.

After the 1200 Metres, STAR OF BOND got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of WIN IT (O Bosson) which shifted in.

O Bosson was advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in future.

In the early and middle stages, SPARKLING SWORD raced with its head on the side and lay out.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, SPINNING DANCER and SUPER SPRINTER bumped.

Approaching the 500 Metres, SPINNING DANCER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of STAR OF BOND which was being ridden along to maintain its position.

MAC ROW was unable to obtain clear running until passing the 150 Metres after initially being disappointed for running inside SPINNING DANCER which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MY LEGEND which shifted in.

RISING POWER, which was following MAC ROW, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse near the 250 Metres.

Approaching the 200 Metres, SUPER SPRINTER was disappointed for running between WIN IT and GREAT TOPLIGHT which shifted in marginally.

Passing the 200 Metres, STAR OF BOND, which was giving ground, got its head up when momentarily steadied away from the heels of SUPER SPRINTER (J Moreira) which shifted out when not quite clear.

J Moreira was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he exercises due care when shifting ground.

Throughout the race, MY LEGEND travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, Apprentice K K Chiong (OSCAR MIRACLE) stated that, despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, OSCAR MIRACLE failed to show early speed.

She said she continued to press OSCAR MIRACLE until after passing the winning post on the first occasion at which point when the horse was left racing very wide, she shifted it in behind runners.

She said, despite being ridden along throughout the middle stages, OSCAR MIRACLE gave ground and became detached from the field along the Back Straight.

She added, despite this, she continued to ride the horse along, however, OSCAR MIRACLE did not respond to her riding at any stage and consequently finished a significant distance from the main body of the field.

She said during and after the race OSCAR MIRACLE appeared sound in its action and she was not able to offer any explanation for the horse's disappointing performance.

Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of OSCAR MIRACLE, was unable to offer any explanation for the horse's disappointing performance.

He said he had hoped that the horse would be able to be ridden in a customary forward position, however, it clearly did not travel well at any stage of the race.

He said OSCAR MIRACLE's training programme had remained normal and the horse had pleased him in the lead up to tonight's race.

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

The performance of OSCAR MIRACLE was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, OSCAR MIRACLE will be required to perform competitively in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

When questioned regarding the performance of STAR OF BOND, Z Purton stated that it had been intended for the horse to be ridden in the lead as it had raced well at its last start when ridden in that manner.

He said in the early stages he rode his mount along aggressively including slapping it down the shoulder with the whip on a number of occasions as the horse was reluctant to show early speed.

He said after shifting across to race outside the leader SPARKLING SWORD after passing the winning post on the first occasion, his mount was inclined to lay out and, in his opinion, was not racing truly.

He added he did consider riding his mount along approaching the 1200 Metres to prevent WIN IT from crossing STAR OF BOND, however, given the manner in which he had had to ride the horse along in the early stages, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of STAR OF BOND to continue to press forward and therefore elected to allow WIN IT to cross STAR OF BOND after the 1200 Metres to see whether STAR OF BOND would race more genuinely.

He said however after being crossed by WIN IT, STAR OF BOND refused to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions.

He said after entering the Back Straight the pace of the race increased slightly and STAR OF BOND raced more genuinely, however, was still inclined to travel keenly.

He said STAR OF BOND came under pressure to maintain its position near the 550 Metres and he had to ride the horse along from this point onwards in an endeavour to maintain its position.

He further stated that after being steadied away from the heels of GREAT TOPLIGHT approaching the 400 Metres when he was unable to prevent that horse from shifting out, STAR OF BOND commenced to give ground.

He said although STAR OF BOND was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER SPRINTER passing the 200 Metres, STAR OF BOND was a beaten horse at this time and gave ground noticeably after this.

A veterinary inspection of STAR OF BOND immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

The performance of STAR OF BOND was considered unacceptable.

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

GREAT TOPLIGHT and SUPER SPRINTER were sent for sampling.