Recap by phillip woo

God Of Dragon took the short route home to come from a detached spot during the early portion of the race to grab victory 150m out. He's vastly improved to win back-to-back and place once from four runs trainer Douglas Whyte this season. Well-backed Above finished ran on nicely down the outside from towards the rear to cut the margin to a neck on the wire. He has good form over this Valley trip. Blastoise kept on well to finish a close third after settling nicely in the box-seat from an awkward gate. He's given a good sight in both starts. Vincy ran on late from beyond midfield to fill the frame. It was better effort with a step up to a more suitable trip. Dynamic Eagle weakened in the run to the wire after briefly leading 250m out pressing a genuine pace. He needs to travel into the race under his own steam. Nordic Sky faded after recovering from a slow start to race prominent on the fence. He's still acclimatising. You can forget the run of Superbella who weakened after a wide without cover run chasing the speed. Golden Spectrum was under pressure before the final bend and had nothing left 200m out rolling forward to lead 1,650m out. He's nothing special and better ridden off the pace.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (135) - THE KWANGTUNG HANDICAP CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 3 - 2200Meters

NORDIC SKY began awkwardly.

GREEN LASER shifted out at the start and bumped DYNAMIC EAGLE.

From the outside barriers, GOD OF DRAGON and ABOVE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the first turn after the 2100 Metres, DYNAMIC EAGLE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of GREEN LASER.

Near the 1900 Metres, NORDIC SKY was crowded for room inside ARTHUR'S KINGDOM which got its head on the side and lay in away from GREEN LASER.

Passing the 1800 Metres, ARTHUR'S KINGDOM shifted out and was checked away from the heels of GREEN LASER.

Also passing the 1800 Metres, DYNAMIC EAGLE was left racing wide and without cover and was then allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead approaching the winning post on the first occasion.

Passing the 300 Metres, GOD OF DRAGON was shifted in away from the heels of BLASTOISE which was directed to the inside of GOLDEN SPECTRUM to obtain clear running.

ABOVE shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages.

The performances of GREEN LASER and ARTHUR'S KINGDOM, both of which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, GREEN LASER and ARTHUR'S KINGDOM 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 the performance of GOLDEN SPECTRUM, K Teetan stated that it was felt that there was not a lot of speed engaged in today's race and it was felt that DYNAMIC EAGLE would most likely lead.

He said he was therefore asked to have GOLDEN SPECTRUM in a good position in the early stages and it was acceptable for him to race outside DYNAMIC EAGLE or whichever horse that led the race if circumstances allowed.

He said after not showing a lot of speed in the early stages, he attempted to find some cover on GOLDEN SPECTRUM after the 2000 Metres, however, was left racing wide and without cover passing the 1800 Metres and therefore he allowed his mount to improve its position which it was able to do without having to be made use of.

He said after crossing to race in the lead after the 1600 Metres, GOLDEN SPECTRUM travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages, however, after the 800 Metres he had to ride GOLDEN SPECTRUM along to maintain its position when DYNAMIC EAGLE and SUPERBELLA commenced to improve their positions.

He said he then he had to continue to ride GOLDEN SPECTRUM after this which was not unexpected given his previous experience with the horse, that being that GOLDEN SPECTRUM responds to riding and generally finished off its races.

He added rounding the Home Turn GOLDEN SPECTRUM stayed on satisfactorily, however, after the 300 Metres was not responding as he had hoped and then over the concluding stages weakened out of the race.

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

When questioned, M F Poon (SUPERBELLA) stated that it was felt that today's race would not be run at a good tempo and therefore he was sked to attempt to take up a forward position and obtain cover if possible.

He said after riding his mount positively in the early stages, SUPERBELLA was left racing very wide and without cover near the 1800 Metres and therefore he allowed his mount to continue forward with GOLDEN SPECTRUM approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasions.

He said when the race was run at a moderate tempo in the middle stages, he did give consideration to allowing SUPERBELLA to improve forward of DYNAMIC EAGLE after passing the winning post on the first occasion, however, he was of the opinion that DYNAMIC EAGLE, which was racing outside the lead, was travelling strongly at this stage and he felt that he would have had to make a lot of use of SUPERBELLA to clear that horse.

He added he was also aware that SUPERBELLA had been successful in a long distance race when wide and without cover previously and therefore whilst it was not ideal for the horse to be racing three wide and without cover, he felt that attempting to ride forward of DYNAMIC EAGLE would not provide SUPERBELLA with the opportunity to finish off the race.

He said after racing wide and without cover, he had to ride his mount along passing the 800 Metres, however, SUPERBELLA did not quicken sufficiently to be able to cross runners to its inside and then commenced to give ground after the 500 Metres.

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

A veterinary inspection of ARTHUR'S KINGDOM and DYNAMIC EAGLE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

GOLDEN SPECTRUM, GOD OF DRAGON and ABOVE were sent for sampling.