Recap by phillip woo

Firming late to jump the clear second choice in betting, Bullish Friend settled fourth along the rails, peeled four deep upon straightening and quickened nicely to get up in the final 20m for a fourth victory this season in his initial run at the Valley. New Glory led along the fence until Super Plus poked his head in front at the 600m, reclaimed the front at the 300m and found one too good in the drive. Super Plus rushed forward off a prominent run to gain a narrow advantage one off the rails at the 600m, was headed at the 250m while cornering three-to-four deep and kept on gamely to hold a placing. Happy Yeah Yeah rolled forward from a wide gate to settle fifth and two off without cover, swung the final bend with three wider out and kept coming with a steady bid to just miss a placing. It was a big run in defeat. Specked late, Turf Magic was taken back to settled at the rear and on the rails at the 800m, stayed to the inside upon straightening and made headway late without threatening. Sunny Fay made his run in midfield and on the rails, cornered three deep and ran on steadily without menacing. Favourite, Victorius dropped back to settle behind midfield and one off the rails outside Sunny Fay, made some ground late in his initial Valley start.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (560)-THE ST GEORGE'S CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 3 - 1200Metres

SUNNY FAY began awkwardly.

When being steadied to obtain a position with cover shortly after the start, GREEN ZONE shifted out and in doing so bumped NORDIC ONE which became unbalanced.

After the 900 Metres, GREEN ZONE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SUNNY FAY.

Near the 800 Metres, VICTORIUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LONGWAH SUPREME which itself was over-racing and being restrained away from the heels of LOADS OF JOY.

Near the 500 Metres, GREEN ZONE was again awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUNNY FAY.

HAPPY YEAH YEAH made the Home Turn awkwardly.

Passing the 100 Metres, VICTORIUS was shifted out away from the heels of LOADS OF JOY.

In the Straight, AMIGO broke down and was eased out of the race.

Over the concluding stages, SUNNY FAY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER PLUS.

When questioned, M L Yeung stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been asked to allow HAPPY YEAH YEAH to use its natural speed to obtain a forward position.

He said however that it was felt that there would be strong pace in the early stages and if HAPPY YEAH YEAH were to be ridden along to obtain the lead, too much use would have to be made of the horse and therefore it would not be able to close off the race.

He said therefore he had been asked to obtain the position behind the speed if possible with cover.

He said however that due to the circumstances of the race he was not able to obtain cover until shifting in behind SUPER PLUS for a short distance after the 800 Metres.

When questioned, D Whyte stated that VICTORIUS travelled on and off the bridle in the race.

He said the horse proved difficult to settle near the 800 Metres as he attempted to position it behind LONGWAH SUPREME.

He said VICTORIUS then came off the bridle after the 600 Metres and he had to ride the horse along vigorously to maintain its position between LONGWAH SUPREME and NORDIC ONE.

He added VICTORIUS raced in restricted room between LONGWAH SUPREME and NORDIC ONE rounding the Home Turn.

He said whilst VICTORIUS was disappointing tonight in that it failed to travel as strongly as it did at its most recent start, nonetheless the horse closed off the race fairly in the Straight.

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

VICTORIUS, BULLISH FRIEND and NEW GLORY were sent for sampling.