Recap by phillip woo

Firming favourite This Is Class won with something in hand after rolling to the front 150m out following a dream run in the box-seat. He's really come right with a switch to the Valley in his past three starts. Bullish Brother kept on a clear-cut second after pinging the start from gate two. His gate speed is potent over this course and there's clearly a win in the wings. Hero Time closed well down the outside to snatch a placing after settling one from the back from gate 12. He's not far off a bottom. Oriental Elite was just denied third after rolling forward without cover to settle one-out one-back at the 650m. He's found it harder off big weights in his past two starts following a win. Compassion Star made some ground without menacing from beyond midfield. It wasn't a bad effort now that he's rated below two winning runs last season over the 1,400m. Cheeky Bee ran on all right one from the right after settling fourth from the rear. It was his best effort.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (659) - FRENCH RACING & BREEDING COMMITTEE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

SUPER RED DRAGON, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 14.5.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore).

Before being allowed to race again, SUPER RED DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

COMPASSION STAR and ORIENTAL ELITE bumped at the start.

FORMULA GALORE and LORIZ bumped at the start.

FORMULA GALORE was then awkwardly placed outside LORIZ which got its head on the side and shifted out after initially being taken out by BULLISH BROTHER.

Shortly after the start, OUR GREEN was steadied away from the heels of GOOD COMPANION which shifted out.

From the outside barriers, CHEEKY BEE and HERO TIME were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, LORIZ got its head on the side and lay out.

After the 700 Metres, COMPASSION STAR, which was travelling keenly, was awkwardly placed behind GOOD COMPANION.

Approaching the 150 Metres, LONDON MASTER raced in restricted room inside FORMULA GALORE.

Throughout the race, MISCHIEVOUS SUNDAE travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, M F Poon (GOOD COMPANION) stated that after riding his mount along for some distance in the early stages, the horse did not show as much early speed as anticipated.

He said approaching the 800 Metres THIS IS CLASS shifted away from the rail to be racing almost behind LORIZ which at this time was racing outside the lead.

He said he felt that if he improved his position outside THIS IS CLASS, this may have resulted in GOOD COMPANION racing three wide and without cover if THIS IS CLASS continued to hold its position behind LORIZ.

He said he therefore elected to sit off THIS IS CLASS rather than racing unnecessarily wide.

He added near the 700 Metres ORIENTAL ELITE improved its position forward of GOOD COMPANION and was then able to shift in front of GOOD COMPANION after the 600 Metres when THIS IS CLASS shifted in to be racing closer to the rail.

He said this resulted in GOOD COMPANION racing one position further back in the field as a result of not improving outside THIS IS CLASS, but he reiterated that he felt GOOD COMPANION may be required to race wide and without cover if he continued to pursue the position outside THIS IS CLASS.

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

A veterinary inspection of MISCHIEVOUS SUNDAE immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a small wound to the left hind foot.

THIS IS CLASS and BULLISH BROTHER were sent for sampling.