Recap by phillip woo

Hercules rattled home to take control 10m out after working into the open 150m out after a patient ride four back on the fence for his third career win. He is a very honest sprinter over this course and was able to build on his placing first-up this term. Exuberant just found one too good after a one-off trip in midfield. The 11-pound swing in the weights was the difference in the end. Punted late, Happy Tango grudgingly gave way after getting his own way in front from gate two. He is mixing his form but is not easy to run down if left alone. Triple Triple just failed to place after a handy run one off the fence. He is close to a bottom. Well-backed late, Loriz came up flat after his boxseat run. He needed the outing. Birdsville made good ground late settling last after his slow start from the widest draw. He went better second up on his return to the Valley. Smiling City ran on without menacing, travelling fourth last from his tricky gate. Favourite Compassion Super was stopping near the 100m after prompting the pace from his wide draw. He did have to carry eight pounds more following his win in July.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (50) - THE TAXATION INSTITUTE OF HONG KONG 50TH ANNIVERSARY CUP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

COUNTRY TREASURE began only fairly and then lost ground on jumping when crowded for room between EXUBERANT and TRIPLE TRIPLE which shifted out.

BLUSTITCH and HAPPY TANGO bumped on jumping, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced and BLUSTITCH shifting out and inconveniencing HERCULES.

In this incident, HAPPY TANGO and LORIZ also brushed.

STRIVE FOR GLORY shifted out at the start and bumped SMILING CITY which in turn shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of COMPASSION SUPER which became unbalanced.

After this, from a wide barrier, SMILING CITY was steadied to obtain cover.

Also from the outside barrier, BIRDSVILLE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Passing the 300 Metres, BIRDSVILLE was shifted to the inside of EXUBERANT after being disappointed for running between that horse and STRIVE FOR GLORY which was commencing to give ground.

BIRDSVILLE then had difficulty obtaining clear running until after the 200 Metres.

After the 50 Metres, LORIZ was awkwardly placed inside the heels of TRIPLE TRIPLE which shifted in away from HERCULES.

Throughout the race, STRIVE FOR GLORY travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned regarding the performance of COMPASSION SUPER, Z Purton stated that he had to make a lot of use of his mount in the early stages to cross runners to its inside and it was not until near the 1000 Metres that he was able to shift across to race outside the lead.

He said when racing outside HAPPY TANGO, the leader of the race, COMPASSION SUPER would not relax and travelled too keenly.

He said at its last start at the end of the most recent racing season when successful, COMPASSION SUPER was able to travel comfortably in the lead which was in contrast to how the horse ran first up tonight.

He said although COMPASSION SUPER briefly raced in restricted room passing the 150 Metres, the horse was commencing to give ground at this time.

He added that whilst COMPASSION SUPER weakened over the latter stages, he was of the opinion that the horse's failure to settle in the middle stages accounted for it not being able to finish the race off.

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

A veterinary inspection of STRIVE FOR GLORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of COUNTRY TREASURE immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm.

Before being allowed to race again, COUNTRY TREASURE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

COMPASSION SUPER, HERCULES and EXUBERANT were sent for sampling.