Recap by phillip woo

Lucky Victor showed terrific speed to easily lead from gate 13, straightened two lengths on top and kept on nicely for a second win from his past three starts. He's really thrived with a return to the dirt and can win again. Turf Brilliant finished strongly to get up in the final few strides for second after doing a good job to quickly find the fence beyond midfield from gate 14. He's close to a win. Crown Avenue lost second late after taking off mid-race from near last to reach second rounding the final bend. He's run well in back-toback AWT efforts at this level. El Valiente just failed to get up for a placing after working into the open approaching the final bend following a rail run worse than midfield. He hasn't disgraced in his two runs at this level but the big weights haven't helped. Speed Force ran on without menacing after a wide run behind midfield. It was a better effort with a switch to the dirt at his third outing for his new trainer this term. Favourite Figures Two responded one-paced under the whip following a one-out, one-back run. He might be better on the turf. Plunged late Happy Jai Jai ran on without threatening from the rear of the field. The switch to the dirt backfired after two positive runs on the turf.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (125) - WA MEI SHAN HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1800Meters

On jumping, ANONYMA stumbled badly, resulting in its rider, H W Lai, being dislodged.

SPEED FORCE shifted out at the start and bumped SHANGHAI GRACE which was crowded for room inside HAPPY JAI JAI which began awkwardly and shifted in.

Despite being vigorously ridden for a considerable distance in the early stages, MISTER MONTE (H T Mo) failed to muster speed.

H T Mo stated that despite him riding his mount along continually throughout the race, MISTER MONTE did not respond to his riding and was never comfortable at any stage of the race and gave ground noticeably over the final 700 Metres.

A veterinary inspection of MISTER MONTE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

The performance of MISTER MONTE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, MISTER MONTE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

After being ridden along for some distance shortly after the start, from a wide barrier, CROWN AVENUE was shifted across behind runners approaching the winning post on the first occasion.

From the outside barrier, TURF BRILLIANT was steadied to obtain cover.

AMAZING LUCK travelled keenly in the early stages when being steadied to obtain cover behind MISTER MONTE.

Then passing the winning post on the first occasion, AMAZING LUCK was awkwardly placed outside the heels of that horse, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of STRATHMARTINE which became unbalanced.

MISTER ARM travelled wide and without cover until the 700 Metres.

Approaching the 400 Metres, HAPPY JAI JAI and AMAZING LUCK bumped, resulting in HAPPY JAI JAI becoming unbalanced and shifting out which caused AMAZING LUCK to be crowded for room inside MISTER ARM which, when under heavy pressure, got its head on the side and shifted in marginally.

After the race, C Schofield stated that RUBY STARS did not travel strongly at any stage of the race.

He said the horse came under heavy pressure near the 700 Metres and then gave ground noticeably over the latter stages.

The performance of RUBY STARS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, RUBY STARS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

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

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

FIGURES TWO, LUCKY VICTOR and TURF BRILLIANT were sent for sampling.