Recap by phillip woo

Post-time favourite Beauty Love travelled effectively in the box-seat and got the gaps late in a tightly-packed run to assert his authority 60m out. He's always shown the talent and the inside draw was golden. House Of Luck parked outside the leader Generous Bobo, claimed the front 200m out and wouldn't go down without a fight. He had put the writing back on the wall last start so a positive run was no surprise. Plunged late Good Method stayed on well to make it close after settling outside the eventual winner. He's capable but has been mixing his form of late. Triumphant Light kept grinding away after a four deep run travelling behind midfield. It was a good effort in defeat but he's likely on or near his mark following a mile win in December. Gold Talent wasn't far off the finish after punching the breeze deep without cover travelling fore of midfield. He's given a decent sight in his past two of three starts following a return from tendon issues. He's not getting any younger but still might be able to get away with a race when stepping up over a more suitable mile or 1,800m trip. Early favourite Lucky Power was on his back foot after jumping slowly and was already beaten when copping a hefty bump 150m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (554)-DONGZHIMEN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1400Metres

SUPER DUKE shifted out at the start, resulting in JOLLY AMBER being taken out onto NOTED PERFORMER which was crowded for room inside GRADE ONE.

From the outside barrier, BORN TO RACE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

After the 1200 Metres, SUPER DUKE commenced to race keenly and shifted out towards the heels of GOOD METHOD which was shifting in.

SUPER DUKE continued to travel keenly and near the 1100 Metres was steadied when crowded for room between GRADE ONE and GOOD METHOD (Apprentice H T Mo) which continued to shift in when not properly clear.

Whilst the Stewards accepted that SUPER DUKE was proving difficult to settle at this time, Apprentice Mo was reprimanded.

LUCKY POWER, which was following SUPER DUKE, got its head up when being checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence.

Passing the 1100 Metres, BEAUTY LOVE was steadied away from the heels of GENEROUS BOBO.

At the 1050 Metres, LUCKY POWER shifted out and bumped TRIUMPHANT LIGHT.

BORN TO RACE, which was racing outside TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence.

Making the turn passing the 900 Metres, SUPER DUKE shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, causing both horses to become badly unbalanced.

Passing the 700 Metres, BORN TO RACE shifted out away from the heels of SUPER DUKE.

Near the 150 Metres, as GRADE ONE was endeavouring to improve into tight running between LUCKY POWER and LITTLE FANTASY, LITTLE FANTASY shifted out marginally, resulting in GRADE ONE and LUCKY POWER both being hampered when crowded for room inside GOLD TALENT.

As the Stewards were satisfied that GRADE ONE had not properly established running between LUCKY POWER and LITTLE FANTASY prior to that horse shifting out slightly, no further action was taken.

Throughout the race, LITTLE FANTASY travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, T H So stated that he had been asked, from an outside barrier, to ride GOLD TALENT in a position forward of midfield.

He said due to the tempo of the race in the early and middle stages he was unable to shift in to obtain cover and because of this was required to race wide and without cover throughout.

The Stewards interviewed S Clipperton, the rider of GRADE ONE, regarding his riding of that horse in the early stages.

S Clipperton stated that he had been asked to ride GRADE ONE in about a midfield position as the horse closed off the race well at its most recent start when ridden more quietly than it had been at its previous starts.

He said after initially being positive on GRADE ONE in order to obtain a position closer to the rail, he commenced to steady GRADE ONE after the 1300 Metres with a view to obtaining a position in about midfield as instructed.

He said whilst it was available to him to cross BEAUTY LOVE for some distance in the early part of the race, he believed that this would have resulted in GRADE ONE racing further forward than had been intended, therefore he remained racing in a one-off position and allowed BEAUTY LOVE to improve its position to be racing inside GRADE ONE.

He added after the 1100 Metres the tempo of the race commenced to slacken and this resulted in GRADE ONE being awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOOD METHOD near the 850 Metres and losing ground.

He said as it was available to him to shift in to race on the rail behind BEAUTY LOVE after the 800 Metres as a result of being awkwardly placed behind GOOD METHOD, he shifted in to obtain this position.

Jockey Clipperton said in retrospect he accepted he had erred in not taking advantage of the position in front of BEAUTY LOVE in the early stages but reiterated that at the time of making his decision he was attempting to ride to instructions whilst also being unaware that the tempo of the race would subsequently slacken to the degree to which it did.

Trainer P O'Sullivan confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Clipperton.

He said at its earlier starts the horse had not finished off its races as he had hoped and he had been encouraged by its last start when ridden more quietly.

He said he therefore impressed upon Jockey Clipperton the requirement to have the horse ridden in a similar manner in today's race.

When questioned, Z Purton stated that it had been intended for LUCKY POWER to be ridden in a forward position in keeping with the manner in which it had raced in its previous two starts.

He said on jumping LUCKY POWER, which was not relaxed as it had been at its last start prior to the race, began only fairly, shifted out and bumped TRIUMPHANT LIGHT.

He said LUCKY POWER was then crowded for room a short distance later due to TRIUMPHANT LIGHT being taken in by GOLD TALENT which resulted in LUCKY POWER being awkwardly placed outside the heels of HOUSE OF LUCK.

He said because of these circumstances LUCKY POWER raced back in the field.

He said after getting its head up near the 1100 Metres when checked away from heels, LUCKY POWER travelled only fairly.

He added in the early part of the Straight LUCKY POWER came under heavy pressure and although the horse was crowded for room passing the 150 Metres, LUCKY POWER was beaten at this time.

He said although LUCKY POWER was required to race further back in the field than had been intended, nonetheless he was of the view that the horse was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close off the race.

A veterinary inspection of LUCKY POWER immediately following the race found the horse to be a "roarer".

BEAUTY LOVE and HOUSE OF LUCK were sent for sampling.