Recap by phillip woo

Post-time favourite Sichuan Dar dashing nicely after peeling out rounding the final bend following a midfield run along the fence to just get up in the final few strides for a third win from four runs over this Valley trip. He had put the writing on the wall late last season following a move to the Tony Millard yard and might be able to get away with another when next stepping out. Classic Emperor kept on gamely after taking the lead from Victory Marvel at the 200m following a pace-stalking run without cover. He's performing off a career high in the ratings but his tactical speed and versatility gives connections options at both tracks. Friends Of Ka Ying closed nicely following a midfield run to make it tight on the wire. He's a winner waiting to happen with placings in six of his past seven starts on both surfaces. Beauty Prince finished off well after travelling one off behind midfield in a solid first run in near eight months following a foot injury in February.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (36) - WASHINGTON D.C.

HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1650Meters

SPEEDY LONGWAH shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of SICHUAN DAR on jumping.

BEAUTY PRINCE was bumped on jumping by GOODHEART SUCCESS which was taken in by VICTORY MARVEL.

PIKACHU, which began awkwardly, shifted out away from FRIENDS OF KA YING on jumping, resulting in DOYENI becoming badly unbalanced, shifting out and inconveniencing DR LISTENING.

Then, from wide barriers, DOYENI and DR LISTENING were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, SICHUAN DAR raced tight inside FRIENDS OF KA YING which got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of CALIFORNIA JOY.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, DR LISTENING got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PIKACHU.

Passing the 800 Metres, PIKACHU was awkwardly placed behind GOODHEART SUCCESS.

At the entrance to the Straight, PACKING DRAGON and CALIFORNIA JOY bumped as PACKING DRAGON attempted to shift out from behind CLASSIC EMPEROR.

A short distance later, PACKING DRAGON was inconvenienced by CALIFORNIA JOY which shifted in after becoming unbalanced.

Approaching the 200 Metres, DOYENI and DR LISTENING raced tight.

Passing the 100 Metres, DOYENI raced tight between SPEEDY LONGWAH and DR LISTENING.

After this, DR LISTENING was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PIKACHU and consequently was not able to be properly tested.

Passing the winning post, DR LISTENING shifted in and bumped DOYENI.

After the race, Z Purton stated that from the wide barrier he shifted DR LISTENING across behind runners as instructed.

He said because of the circumstances of the race he was not able to improve his position in the middle stages when racing behind DOYENI and inside PIKACHU.

He said when the tempo of the race quickened rounding the Home Turn DR LISTENING was not able to quicken sufficiently to put itself into contention in the Straight.

He said over the latter stages of the race DR LISTENING initially commenced to close off satisfactorily, however, he was not able to ride the horse out fully over the concluding stages due to being awkwardly placed inside the heels of PIKACHU.

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

SICHUAN DAR and CLASSIC EMPEROR were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

The following horse was replated in the saddling stalls:- Race 4: DIEGO KOSTA (right hind)

2.

10 September 2017 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 10 (28) After reviewing the videos of this race, the Stewards considered it appropriate to question O Doleuze, the rider of DRAGON MASTER, regarding the tactics he adopted on that horse in the run to the first turn near the 700 Metres.

O Doleuze stated that, from a wide barrier, he shifted DRAGON MASTER across behind the forward running horses so as to obtain cover as DRAGON MASTER is well-known to have had difficulty making the turns in a number of its races.

O Doleuze stated that after shifting across to race inside the running line of DRAGON GENERAL near the 1000 Metres, he then rode his mount along for some distance in an endeavour to consolidate the position inside DRAGON GENERAL and behind JOYFUL MOMENTS.

He said, despite being ridden along, DRAGON MASTER was not able to make sufficient ground on DRAGON GENERAL to properly maintain the position inside that horse and therefore passing the 800 Metres rather than continue to make use of his horse, he elected to allow DRAGON GENERAL to cross DRAGON MASTER which at this time was being shifted in in advance of DRAGON MASTER.

O Doleuze stated that his reasons for riding DRAGON MASTER in this manner at this time were twofold.

Firstly, he believed he would have had to make extra use of DRAGON MASTER in an attempt to prevent DRAGON GENERAL from crossing and as he had ridden the horse along for some distance leading up to the 800 Metres he did not believe that this would be in the best interests of DRAGON MASTER as the horse may then not be able to finish off the race.

Secondly, he did not want DRAGON MASTER being ridden along making the first turn given the horse's propensity to make the turns awkwardly in its previous races.

He added that had it not have been for these factors he would normally have pursued the position inside DRAGON GENERAL so as to prevent that horse from crossing DRAGON MASTER.

Having regard to the racing history of DRAGON MASTER and the circumstances of this race, the Stewards took no further action other than to advise O Doleuze that, wherever possible, he should endeavour to maintain favourable positions in races.

3.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 10 September 2017 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of SUPER EURO STAR, CREAM BRULEE, SEVEN LUCK, HAPPY SOUND, HIT A HOME RUN, INDUSTRIALIST WAY, TELECOM BOOM, GOOD METHOD, MORETHANLUCKY, A BEAUTIFUL, STAR SUPERIOR, AMAZING MOMENT, STARTLING POWER, JOLLY BANNER, WINNER'S WAY, AMAZING AGILITY, WINWIN RUBY, PINGWU SPARK, MYTHICAL EMPEROR, PAKISTAN BABY, DRAGON GENERAL and WINNING VANGOGH revealed no apparent abnormality.

4.

Racing Laboratory tests of LUCKY LUCKY, TOP BEAUTIFUL, PEACE COMBINATION, BEST TANGO, JE PENSE, AMRITSARIA, MAGIC LEGEND, SEASONS BLOOM, BLIZZARD, HOUSEHOLD KING, REWARDING FLYER, YOURTHEWONFORME, ENCHANTED FEELING, EXPERTO CREDE, GOOD FOR YOU, EVEREST, FAIRY TWINS, HAIR TRIGGER, MONEY BOY, BABA MAMA, MONGOLIAN KING, SOLAR HEI HEI, TRAVEL EMPEROR, FIFTY FIFTY, DIAMOND KING, CALCULATION, RATTAN and REGENCY BO BO (3.9.17) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 2: TRAVEL SUCCESSOR on 12.9.17 on veterinary advice.

Race 5: SPINNING DANCER at barriers on veterinary advice.

Race 6: UNICRON JEWELLERY on 12.9.17 on veterinary advice.

2.

Fines Race 2: J Moreira (REGENCY HONEY): $10,000 for using his whip in an inappropriate manner.

Race 3: O Doleuze (DUTCH WINDMILL): $10,000 for careless riding after passing the winning post on the first occasion.

3.

Warnings Race 2: M L Yeung (LOVE CHUNGHWA) for shifting in shortly after the start.

Race 4: D Whyte (IRON BOY) re the manner in which he rode his mount out to the end of the race.

Race 6: D Whyte (GOLDEN SLEEP) for shifting in making the turn near the 550 Metres.

M Chadwick (CALL ME AWESOME) re his riding in the early stages.

Race 7: U Rispoli (JADE THEATRE) for raising his whip arm above the height of his shoulder.

C Y Ho (JUMBO HAPPINESS) re his riding passing the 500 Metres.

General: O Doleuze (DRAGON MASTER) re his riding in the middle stages.

4.

Suspension Race 3: O Doleuze (DUTCH WINDMILL) for careless riding after passing the winning post on the first occasion (from 24 September 2017 until 28 September 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

5.

Irregular Heart Rhythm Race 3: EMPEROR VICTORY

6.

Bleeder Race 3: EMPEROR VICTORY

7.

Barrier Trials Race 3: EMPEROR VICTORY LE PANACHE BE THERE AHEAD

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: TRAVEL SUCCESSOR Race 3: EMPEROR VICTORY LE PANACHE BE THERE AHEAD Race 5: SPINNING DANCER Race 6: UNICRON JEWELLERY