Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Touch Of Luck got the gaps when required following a midfield run on the fence to take control 150m out. He had put the writing on the wall last start after a stable change and there appears more to come. Shanghai Dragon kept on gamely for second after finding the front 1,350m out. He's only just come right in his past two starts and can salute shortly. Sunny Power rallied well after settling third from the back to miss second by a bob of heads. He's racing well without winning. Dor Dor finished nicely one from the right after travelling fourth from the back. He's flashed ability at times but isn't reliable. Little General stayed on reasonably well after a deep run without cover in a prominent spot. It was a good run. C P Power closed off all right after a one-off run behind midfield. He hasn't been easy to get right this term. Bellagio was held up at the top of the straight following box-seat run but failed to lift with every chance over the final 250m.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (692) - PACKING WINNER HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1600Meters

LITTLE GENERAL shifted out at the start and hampered RAZOR QUEST and DASHING DART which both became unbalanced after bumping.

After this, from the outside barriers, RAZOR QUEST and DASHING DART were shifted across behind runners.

Also from a wide barrier, SUNNY POWER was shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover.

SHANGHAI DRAGON shifted out shortly after the start and bumped the hindquarters of C P POWER.

Near the 1550 Metres, A Domeyer (LITTLE GENERAL) adjusted his left foot in the stirrup iron.

After travelling a short distance, GREAT TREASURE and SHANGHAI DRAGON raced tight between BELLAGIO and C P POWER which shifted in.

Then near the 1500 Metres, SHANGHAI DRAGON became unbalanced after bumping C P POWER and consequently shifted out abruptly, resulting in C P POWER being hampered.

CIRCUIT THREE, which was racing to the outside of C P POWER, shifted out away from that horse and bumped DOR DOR, resulting in CIRCUIT THREE and DOR DOR both becoming unbalanced.

When C P POWER was taken out by SHANGHAI DRAGON, TOUCH OF LUCK was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence.

After the 1000 Metres, DASHING DART got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of FRIENDS OF NANJING which was being steadied to obtain cover behind CIRCUIT THREE.

Also after the 1000 Metres, RAZOR QUEST got its head up when travelling keenly.

Passing the 800 Metres, DASHING DART got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FRIENDS OF NANJING.

Near the 450 Metres, C P POWER was shifted out away from the heels of CIRCUIT THREE after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse.

Near the 150 Metres, FLASH FAMOUS raced tight inside BELLAGIO which lay in when awkwardly placed inside SAM'S LOVE.

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

When questioned, G van Niekerk (GREAT TREASURE) stated that near the 850 Metres GREAT TREASURE was crowded for room between LITTLE GENERAL and BELLAGIO, both of which shifted ground.

He said after this GREAT TREASURE got its head on the side and lay out and he was very awkwardly placed inside the heels of LITTLE GENERAL which was racing in a tight three wide position.

He said he called on a number of occasions in the middle stages to ensure that other riders were aware of his position as GREAT TREASURE was awkwardly placed between LITTLE GENERAL and BELLAGIO which was commencing to shift out.

He said because LITTLE GENERAL was shifting out, he attempted to shift to the outside of that horse to obtain clear running rounding the Home Turn, however, CIRCUIT THREE improved its position to be racing tight outside GREAT TREASURE and he was therefore not able to shift to the outside of LITTLE GENERAL at this stage.

He added as he was attempting to shift to the outside of LITTLE GENERAL, TOUCH OF LUCK was then able to improve its position to be racing between GREAT TREASURE and BELLAGIO.

G van Niekerk was advised that the Stewards accepted that GREAT TREASURE was laying out approaching and passing the 600 Metres which placed that horse in an awkward position, however, he was told to ensure that he maintains his position wherever circumstances permit.

When questioned, U Rispoli (BELLAGIO) stated that after obtaining a trailing position behind the leader SHANGHAI DRAGON, BELLAGIO travelled too keenly in the early and middle stages.

He said after the 500 Metres he commenced to shift out from behind SHANGHAI DRAGON to follow SAM'S LOVE as he was instructed to make his run to the outside of horses if possible.

He said as he was shifting out, he heard a number of calls to his outside and for this reason he had two looks to his outside at the 500 Metres to establish whether he was clear of runners to shift out.

He said as he was shifting out to follow SAM'S LOVE, TOUCH OF LUCK improved its position quickly to be racing outside the heels of BELLAGIO.

He said as he was shifting to the outside of SAM'S LOVE at the entrance to the Straight, that horse shifted out away from SHANGHAI DRAGON which placed him in an awkward position behind SAM'S LOVE, particularly given that TOUCH OF LUCK had been able to quickly improve its position to his outside.

He said passing the 400 Metres room still remained to improve between SAM'S LOVE and TOUCH OF LUCK, however, BELLAGIO got its head on the side and hung in away from TOUCH OF LUCK across the heels of SAM'S LOVE.

He added BELLAGIO had previously hung in in a number of its races and the horse did so again today.

He said after being disappointed for running between SAM'S LOVE and TOUCH OF LUCK, he then shifted to the inside of SAM'S LOVE to follow SHANGHAI DRAGON, however, BELLAGIO did not quicken and then was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race when continuing to lay in under pressure.

After considering all the circumstances relative to U Rispoli's riding of BELLAGIO, particularly after the 600 Metres, and having in mind the manner in which the horse then failed to finish off the race in the Straight, the Stewards advised U Rispoli that his riding of BELLAGIO rounding the Home Turn had come under notice.

He was told to ensure that he rides his mounts in an assertive manner so that he is able to avail himself of clear running and in accordance with his instructions wherever appropriate circumstances permit.

A veterinary inspection of BELLAGIO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

TOUCH OF LUCK and SHANGHAI DRAGON were sent for sampling.