Recap by phillip woo

Savvy Nine responded nicely to get up 80m out after a patient ride fourth from the rear for a first victory at his 17th start. He had been promising to do this for a while now. Favourite Glorious Dragon closed well from the rear to make it close on the wire. He has good form over this Valley trip. Singapore Sling peaked on his run 50m out after surging to the front 130m out following a one-off trip in midfield. It was his best run in a while. Harmony Victory got going when the race was all but over to fill the frame after biding his time third last along the inside. He's naturally returning to form in his three starts this term. Cinquante Cinq kept on reasonably well following a midfield run. It was a good effort despite a big jump in class. Reliable Team weakened 60m out after stalking the leader Time Warp one off the fence from a middle draw. He's on his mark. Time Warp was coming back to the field over the last 100m after clearing to the lead 1,450m out from a wide gate. He's beyond his better days.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (320) - THE JANUARY CUP (HANDICAP) - Class G3 - 1800Meters

At declaration time, C Schofield was declared as the rider of both SINGAPORE SLING and SAVVY NINE.

It was established that C Schofield had a firm commitment to ride SINGAPORE SLING.

As such, the Stewards permitted C Soumillon to be substituted as the rider of SAVVY NINE.

For this declaration error, Trainer D J Whyte was fined $2,000.

From the outside barrier, GLORIOUS DRAGON was steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

After passing the winning post on the first occasion, SIMPLY BRILLIANT was left racing wide and without cover.

An inquiry was held into an incident after passing the winning post on the first occasion where HARMONY VICTORY was checked when crowded for room inside INSAYSHABLE (M F Poon) which itself was racing tight inside SAVVY NINE (C Soumillon).

It was established that approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion SAVVY NINE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SIMPLY BRILLIANT and when taken in by that horse shifted in and became awkward near the heels of SINGAPORE SLING.

A short distance later, SAVVY NINE then shifted in further, resulting in INSAYSHABLE, which made ground quickly to its inside, being hampered when crowded onto HARMONY VICTORY which was checked.

C Soumillon was reprimanded and advised that whilst the Stewards acknowledged that SAVVY NINE had itself been awkwardly placed near the heels of SIMPLY BRILLIANT and then SINGAPORE SLING in the lead up to the incident, nonetheless he should have made more of an effort to prevent his mount from shifting in and causing the tightening to both INSAYSHABLE and HARMONY VICTORY.

M F Poon was also cautioned for initially allowing his mount to shift in, placing HARMONY VICTORY in tight racing room passing the winning post on the first occasion.

Approaching the 400 Metres, HARMONY VICTORY was hampered when awkwardly placed inside the heels of SAVVY NINE which improved inside the heels of SIMPLY BRILLIANT which shifted out as it came under pressure.

Soon after straightening, BEAR AGAIN was checked when disappointed for running between TIME WARP and RELIABLE TEAM (J Moreira) which shifted in when placed under pressure.

Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that BEAR AGAIN had not established the run between TIME WARP and RELIABLE TEAM prior to being disappointed, nonetheless J Moreira was advised to exercise more care and to make more of an effort to keep his mounts straight.

C Y Ho, the rider of TIME WARP, was warned against the practice of using his whip forward of the saddle.

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

A veterinary inspection of INSAYSHABLE immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg.

Before being allowed to race again, INSAYSHABLE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

SAVVY NINE and GLORIOUS DRAGON were sent for sampling.