Recap by phillip woo

Werther copped a check 550m out after pulling hard following a prominent but was able to pick himself up and run down Blazing Speed in the last stride to remain unbeaten in three Group Ones over this Sha Tin trip. He'll be hard to beat when next stepping out in the likely QE II Cup. Blazing Speed assumed the lead 250m out following a pace-stalking run and wouldn't go down without a fight. He's getting long in the tooth but is still capable of big races. Secret Weapon finished well near the inside after getting shuffled back to near last to get up for a placing. He remains one to keep safe when returning over the 1,800m or 2,000m. Basic Trilogy was on his tippy toes 150m out after getting his own time up front. He's not good enough at set weights in this company but will be winning shortly a handicap race over 1,800m or 2,000m. Punted late Beauty Only never was never dangerous after travelling third from the rear. The race conditions went against him and he's better at a mile. Designs On Rome's move from the 800m was short lived. Like Beauty Only, he needs a fast ground and pace. Flame Hero went amiss 700m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (450)-THE CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP - Group One - 2000Metres

SECRET WEAPON shifted in at the start and bumped FLAME HERO.

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

FLAME HERO was eased out of the race passing the 900 Metres.

After the race, it was reported that FLAME HERO had bled from both nostrils.

Passing the 600 Metres, as H Bowman attempted to improve on WERTHER to the outside of BLAZING SPEED, WERTHER was taken out marginally by BLAZING SPEED which also shifted a small amount of ground to establish running to the outside of BASIC TRILOGY.

This resulted in WERTHER being checked when unable to improve between BLAZING SPEED and BEAUTY ONLY which improved quickly to the outside of WERTHER and was racing tight to the inside of DESIGNS ON ROME.

As H Bowman attempted to establish his position between BEAUTY ONLY and BLAZING SPEED, WERTHER bumped BEAUTY ONLY, resulting in that horse being taken out onto the hindquarters of DESIGNS ON ROME which was turned in.

This resulted in BEAUTY ONLY becoming unbalanced and shifting in, exacerbating the check sustained by WERTHER.

After this, as BEAUTY ONLY remained unbalanced, it again bumped the hindquarters of DESIGNS ON ROME approaching the 500 Metres, causing both horses to again become badly unbalanced.

As the Stewards were satisfied that WERTHER had not properly established running to the outside of BLAZING SPEED prior to that horse shifting marginally to establish itself to the outside of BASIC TRILOGY, no further action was taken.

In the early part of the Straight, WERTHER got its head on the side and lay in under pressure.

SECRET WEAPON was unable to obtain clear running until passing the 250 Metres.

WERTHER and BLAZING SPEED were sent for sampling.