Recap by phillip woo

Lovero kept finding to just hold off Star Contact after assuming the lead 400m out following a pace-stalking run from gate 10. He has been a revelation following a switch to the Valley 1,650m for two wins and three seconds from his past six starts. Star Contact made it close on the wire after a wide with cover trip from midfield. He was able to back up a near win last start over the 1,600m. Favourite Red Hare King finished two short heads away in third after sitting on the back of the leaders on the fence. He continues to hold his condition very well. Zoom Boom stayed on gamely to finish a close fourth after a prominent run wide without cover from a tricky gate. It was another good run following a last-start win. Chain Of Gold finished next best without much room over the final 100m following a rail run from behind midfield. He is a winner waiting to happen. Hameron ran on without threatening from the rear of the field. He couldn't overcome a big weight. Giddy Up only plodded when asked for more over the final 150m following a prominent run one off the fence. He could not build on a rallying third last time out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven : (653) - GRAHAM HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Meters

Horse No 2 RED HARE KING (H188) M Chadwick Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 3 ZOOM BOOM (G131) A Atzeni Jumped only fairly.

Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

Horse No 4 GIDDY UP (J020) B Avdulla After the race, B Avdulla stated that in the early stages he allowed GIDDY UP to hold a forward position to endeavour to offset his mount racing wide.

He said in the early stages GIDDY UP raced a little keenly and from the 800 Metres when runners improved to his outside GIDDY UP got its head up and did not finish the race off from that point.

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

Horse No 5 LOVERO (H451) Y L Chung Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 6 LOOKING GREAT (E053) M F Poon Noted to have sustained a small wound to the left hind leg after the race.

Horse No 7 STAR CONTACT (E472) K Teetan Bumped approaching the 300 Metres.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 8 ORIENTAL TYCOON (J112) H Bentley Bumped on jumping.

After the race, H Bentley reported that he was asked to take up a forward position on his mount.

Trainer P C Ng confirmed the instructions issued.

Horse No 9 ACCOLADE START (H331) A Badel Reported to have coughed twice on the way to the Start, examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race.

A veterinary inspection immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse's trachea.

A Badel was issued with a warning for using the whip on a horse that was out of contention and not responding.

Horse No 10 CHAIN OF GOLD (J138) Z Purton Jumped only fairly and then was crowded by RED HARE KING which shifted out.

Approaching the 300 Metres bumped with STAR CONTACT when being shifted to the outside of GIDDY UP to obtain clear running.

Prior to declaring weighed-in, the Stewards viewed the patrol films to ascertain if there were grounds for a protest/objection on behalf of the connections of CHAIN OF GOLD being declared 5th placegetter following it being crowded for room inside the 50 Metres.

When the Stewards found that there were not sufficient grounds to lodge a protest/objection having regard to the margin of 3/4 length between the two horses at the finish of the race and no protest/objection was lodged by the connections of CHAIN OF GOLD, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

At a subsequent inquiry, Y L Chung (LOVERO) was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift out approaching the 50 Metres, causing CHAIN OF GOLD to be steadied when crowded between ZOOM BOOM and LOVERO.