Recap by phillip woo

Bulb Elite held off favourite Everyone's Elite after kicking home following a pace-stalking run outside the leader Beauty Angel from a wide gate for a first win at his 24th start. He proved a better effort last Wednesday in his initial Valley mile run was not a fluke. Everyone's Elite just failed for a fourth straight run but had every chance in the boxseat. Punted late Starlit Knight just held on for a placing travelling effectively one-out, one-back. He's given a better sight in his past two starts and can breakthrough at any moment. Charity Wings came from near last to just miss a placing despite a tempo run to suit those up front. He doesn't know how to run a bad race over this trip. Villa Fionn finished well near the outside after a patient ride third from the rear. Plunged late Sonic Fighter ran on steadily to just finish out of the placings from behind midfield. The switch to the Valley carrying a big weight following a win didn't quite pan out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (410) - TAI PO HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

MILLENNIUM DAWN shifted out at the start and bumped PRO FIT which was then shifted out and bumped BEAUTY ANGEL.

BEAUTY ANGEL then became unbalanced and shifted in, causing PRO FIT and MILLENNIUM DAWN to be hampered.

From wide barriers, CHARITY WINGS, VITAL SPRING and DRAGON BOLT were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 1300 Metres, MILLENNIUM DAWN got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of SONIC FIGHTER.

Then making the turn after the 1100 Metres, MILLENNIUM DAWN again got its head on the side and lost ground after shifting out towards the heels of SONIC FIGHTER.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, PRO FIT commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of STARLIT KNIGHT.

After being shifted back in in an endeavour to race behind that horse near the 1000 Metres, PRO FIT was then checked away from the heels of STARLIT KNIGHT and again shifted out and consequently, when travelling keenly, raced wide and without cover.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, MILLENNIUM DAWN got its head on the side, shifted out and made contact with the hindquarters of CHARITY WINGS which became unbalanced.

When racing tight inside CHARITY WINGS near the 550 Metres, MILLENNIUM DAWN lost ground when momentarily crowded for room inside that horse which raced tight inside VILLA FIONN.

After this, MILLENNIUM DAWN gave ground and finished tailed out.

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

The performance of MILLENNIUM DAWN was considered unacceptable.

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

When questioned regarding BULB ELITE being ridden in a forward position tonight as compared to its last start when ridden from behind over the same course and distance from a similarly wide barrier, A Badel stated that on both occasions he had not been given any firm instructions on how BULB ELITE should be ridden.

He said prior to both races he was asked to ride BULB ELITE according to how the horse began and that if it was to begin well, he could attempt to obtain a forward position, however, if this was not possible, then he should shift BULB ELITE across behind runners and ride for luck.

He said at its last start the horse turned its head just prior to the start being effected and did not begin well and then was bumped by the horse to its inside which shifted out.

He said as BULB ELITE did not begin well, he made the decision to ride the horse quietly in the early stages as he did not believe it was in the horse's best interests to attempt to be ridden forward given the amount of work that he would have had to do.

He said in tonight's race BULB ELITE began very well and shortly after the start had established something of a margin over the horses drawn immediately to its inside.

He said, given the manner in which the horse began, he rode BULB ELITE positively and due to the slow early sectional of the race he was able to take up a forward position without too much use having to be made of the horse.

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that PRO FIT had bled from both nostrils.

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

BULB ELITE and EVERYONE'S ELITE were sent for sampling.