Recap by phillip woo

On the speed was the place to be in this race. The Show was given an easy time up front after clearing to the lead from a tricky gate 1,150m out and kept up a strong gallop to land a betting move. He had fallen plenty in the handicaps and the claim was well utilised. Early favourite Polymer Luck sat second after leading early on and stuck on well without menacing the winner. He keeps going close without winning. Ambitious Pins weaved a run near the inside after travelling third from the rear to place. It was a good run on the back of a slow pace and he'll be winning shortly in the grade. Specked late, Great Treasure stuck on all right after travelling worse than midfield to just miss a placing. He runs out a stronger 1,400m. Late-fancied favourite Imperial Seal had his chance following a handy run but was only grinding away later. He might need 1,800m now. Blazing Pass was beaten by the pace. Daring Heart had excuses after a no-cover run in midfield. Dashing Dart was struggling a long ways out. Something must have gone amiss.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (558)-JIANGUOMEN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1600Metres

ARGENTUM was withdrawn on 7.4.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inflamed right front fetlock) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter DUTCH WINDMILL (T H So).

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

IMPERIAL SEAL shifted out at the start, resulting in TEAM SWEET and GREAT TREASURE being hampered.

LUCKY SEVEN STARS began awkwardly and then became unbalanced after bumping with DARING HEART.

Shortly after the start, DASHING DART was crowded for room between BLAZING PASS and AMBITIOUS PINS.

From a wide barrier, AMBITIOUS PINS was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

For a considerable distance in the early and middle stages, DYNAMIC LIONS proved very difficult to settle when being steadied to obtain cover.

Passing the 1300 Metres, GREAT TREASURE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DYNAMIC LIONS.

For some distance after the 1300 Metres, DARING HEART got its head up when proving difficult to settle and was subsequently left racing wide and without cover after the 1000 Metres.

Passing the 600 Metres, DUTCH WINDMILL was taken wider by LUCKY SEVEN STARS which shifted out to obtain clear running.

Leaving the 300 Metres, GREAT TREASURE shifted out and bumped DARING HEART.

LUCKY SEVEN STARS, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence.

Passing the 200 Metres, T H So dropped his left rein.

In the Straight, POLYMER LUCK raced with its head on the side, lay in under pressure and proved difficult to ride.

When questioned, K C Leung (DASHING DART) stated that at its last start when successful and ridden by him, the horse was able to obtain a midfield position comfortably and travelled strongly in the early and middle stages.

He said in today's race after shifting DASHING DART across behind runners, the horse was reluctant to improve its position and he had to ride it vigorously after the 1500 Metres in an endeavour to obtain a position inside BLAZING PASS.

He said, despite being hard ridden, DASHING DART was reluctant to improve its position and he had to continually ride the horse along including slapping it down the shoulder with the whip in an endeavour to have it take up a more prominent position.

He said, despite being ridden along, DASHING DART lost ground rather than improving its position and after the 1100 Metres became detached from the field.

He added he continued to ride the horse along until after the 1000 Metres, however, as it was continuing to lose ground, he eased it down from the 900 Metres.

He added that he continued to follow the field as he established that the horse had not bled and he was not able to identify any obvious lameness or soreness issues.

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

The performance of DASHING DART, which had won its two most recent starts, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, DASHING DART will be required to perform competitively in a series of consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of BLAZING PASS and DARING HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

IMPERIAL SEAL, THE SHOW and POLYMER LUCK were sent for sampling.