Recap by phillip woo

Well-backed late, Waikuku kept on gamely for the win over Golden Sixty after hitting the front 350m out after tracking the leader on the fence. He's a Group One winner and had the better run in a slowly run race. Raging favourite Golden Sixty had his incredible run halted at 16 but still rallied nicely from near last to finish a close second. He spotted them too much of a head start in a slowly run race. Russian Emperor stayed on well for a placing after travelling on his lonesome in midfield. He's racing well and will be hard to beat in the Hong Kong Gold Cup over a more suitable 2,000m. More Than This ran on to finish a non-threatening fourth after a patient ride a position ahead of Golden Sixty in the run. He too was not suited by the muddling pace. Sky Darci came from last to pick up a minor cheque. He's failed to take the next step this season and appears to be crying out for a longer trip. Healthy Happy didn't find much when headed for the lead after getting his own way in front at slow sections. He's better suited at 1,400m. Kings Shield finished a distant last after tracking the speed three deep in third. He had a wide trip but was clearly outclassed with a return to the turf.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (362) - THE STEWARDS' CUP - Class G1 - 1600Meters

C Y Ho (GOLDEN SIXTY) was fined the sum of $2,000 for failing to present himself in the Parade Ring by the required time.

WAIKUKU shifted in at the start and bumped RUSSIAN EMPEROR.

MORE THAN THIS was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Approaching the 500 Metres, SKY DARCI raced tight outside GOLDEN SIXTY when being taken wider by that horse which shifted to the outside of MORE THAN THIS.

GOLDEN SIXTY raced tight outside MORE THAN THIS at the entrance to the Straight as that horse lay out.

Passing the 300 Metres, MORE THAN THIS raced tight between KINGS SHIELD and GOLDEN SIXTY which shifted in.

When questioned, C Y Ho stated that, from barrier 1, he had intended to shift away from the rail in the early stages as he did not want to be held up for clear running at any stage of the race.

He said in the small field he expected that GOLDEN SIXTY would race at the rear of the field, however, would be closer to the main body of the field than what it eventuated in this race.

He said he anticipated that SKY DARCI and MORE THAN THIS would be closer in the run than they were and that he would race behind that pair of runners and shift to the outside near the 600 Metres.

He said whilst the opportunity was available for GOLDEN SIXTY to improve along the Back Straight to be racing inside MORE THAN THIS, he was reluctant to allow GOLDEN SIXTY to do so given the possibility to be held up for clear running as horses on the pace gave ground and also that it appeared from the earlier races that horses racing away from the rail may have been advantaged.

He said passing the 600 Metres he shifted out to be racing behind MORE THAN THIS and then near the 550 Metres improved to the outside of that horse.

He said to do this he was required to brush SKY DARCI and take that horse wider.

He said whilst he was comfortable with his decision not to improve inside MORE THAN THIS in the early and middle stages, he felt that it may have been more preferable to have shifted to the outside of MORE THAN THIS earlier than what he did to commence improving into the race.

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

Before being allowed to race again, HEALTHY HAPPY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

WAIKUKU and GOLDEN SIXTY were sent for sampling.