Recap by phillip woo

In a thrilling finish, Watch Buddy just got up in the final few strides after getting held up for a run until the 200m settling one-off from just worse than midfield for a fourth win from nine Valley 1,200m starts. It was a return to form after failing to threaten in three prior starts. Armour Eagle came with a ducking-and-weaving run from near last at the head of the straight to just miss. He is always a chance over this Valley trip and was a well rated runner. Young Arrow was just touched off late after moving to the lead 150m out following a prominent run on the fence. It was an improved effort at his second local start. Righteous Arion ran on strongly down the far outside from last at the head of the straight to finish level for fourth beaten just under a length. He rarely produces a bad run at the Valley. California Touch ran on nicely from towards the rear to dead-heat for fourth after a sluggish start. It was another good run despite being on his back foot at the jump following a win. Favourite Healthy Healthy was stopping 50m out after getting headed for the front by Lucky Archangel 600m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine : (801) - BROOM HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

Horse No 1 NORDIC DRAGON (G467) H Bowman For some distance near the 300 Metres was bumped by ASTROLOGER which attempted to shift out.

Lay in in the Home Straight.

Horse No 2 WATCH BUDDY (H185) L Ferraris Approaching the 250 Metres was disappointed for clear running between GOLDEN EMPIRE and CALIFORNIA TOUCH and was shifted to the inside of GOLDEN EMPIRE where it obtained clear running after the 200 Metres.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 3 ASTROLOGER (G102) K C Leung Bumped shortly after the start.

Approaching the 1000 Metres was steadied to avoid WATCH BUDDY which shifted in when being corrected by its rider.

In the early stages raced keenly and refused to settle and got its head up when being steadied away from WATCH BUDDY for some distance after the 900 Metres.

Approaching the 300 Metres was held up for clear running and made contact with NORDIC DRAGON as it endeavoured to obtain clear running to the outside of CALIFORNIA TOUCH.

When disappointed for this run, ASTROLOGER then did not obtain clear running for the remainder of the event and could not be ridden out to the finish.

Horse No 4 CALIFORNIA TOUCH (J051) B Avdulla Jumped awkwardly.

Horse No 5 GOLDEN EMPIRE (E490) L Hewitson Raced wide and without cover from the 700 Metres.

Horse No 6 LUCKY ARCHANGEL (E385) M F Poon After the 1000 Metres was steadied and shifted out and away from GOLDEN EMPIRE which shifted out slightly.

After the race, M F Poon stated that when caught wide in the early stages he was obliged to allow his mount to stride forward and lead the event.

He said as a consequence of the use he had to make of his mount in the early stages LUCKY ARCHANGEL did not finish the race off in the Home Straight.

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

Horse No 7 HEALTHY HEALTHY (H203) A Badel Over the concluding stages raced tight between ARMOUR EAGLE and WATCH BUDDY which shifted in slightly and as a result could not be ridden out to the finish of the event.

After the race, A Badel reported that his mount was coughing during the running of the event.

A veterinary inspection 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 HEALTHY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 8 MIGHTY COMMANDER (J360) C Y Ho On jumping was steadied when crowded between YOUNG ARROW and WATCH BUDDY which shifted in slightly.

Approaching the 50 Metres obtained a narrow run to the inside of YOUNG ARROW and raced tight to the inside of that runner over the concluding stages.

Horse No 9 NATURAL HIGH (J365) B Thompson Approaching the 1000 Metres became unbalanced when buffeted for room between WATCH BUDDY which shifted out when being corrected by its rider and GOLDEN EMPIRE (L Hewitson) which shifted in.

L Hewitson was advised to exercise more care.

Horse No 10 RIGHTEOUS ARION (H059) Y L Chung Near the 800 Metres was steadied away from ASTROLOGER and then raced keenly for some distance thereafter.

Horse No 11 YOUNG ARROW (J401) H Bentley Crowded at the start.

Noted to have lost its left hind plate after the race.

Horse No 12 ARMOUR EAGLE (G093) K Teetan When commencing to finish the race off well near the 150 Metres raced tight between HEALTHY HEALTHY and LUCKY ARCHANGEL as it improved between those runners.

Over the concluding stages then raced tight between HEALTHY HEALTHY and YOUNG ARROW.

Sent for sampling post-race.

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GENERAL:

1.

Racing Laboratory tests of BEAUTY MISSILE, MY WISH, YUEN LONG ELITE, PERFECT TEAM, TALENTS AMBITION, YOUNG BRILLIANT, G LINER, BRAVE WITNESS, JOY OF SPRING, GOOD GOOD, STEPS AHEAD, GREENWICH, STORMING DRAGON, MASTER MASTERMIND, TOP PEAK, JUMBO FORTUNE, AWESOME FLUKE, SIMPLE HEDGE, CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, MUGEN, BEAUTY JOY, GALAXY PATCH, CHANCHENG GLORY, JAMES TAK, LUCY IN THE SKY, BEAUTY CRESCENT and RUBYLOT (23.6.24) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 4 CALIFORNIA CIBLE on 3.7.24 on veterinary advice

2.

Fine Race 6 Trainer D J Whyte (ME TIME): $2,000 for a declaration error

3.

Reprimand Race 4 M L Yeung (MY INTELLIGENT) for shifting in near the 900 Metres

4.

Warnings Race 1 A Badel (TATTENHAM) for shifting out after the 200 Metres Race 3 B Avdulla (NOTTHESILLYONE) for shifting in near the 700 Metres L Hewitson (GORGEOUS VITALITY) for shifting out near the 200 Metres Race 4 A Atzeni (HERCULES) re his riding on the Home Turn and in the early part of the Home Straight Race 5 K H Chan (FOREMOST TEDDY) re his riding in the early part of the Home Straight Race 9 L Hewitson (GOLDEN EMPIRE) for shifting in approaching the 1000 Metres

5.

Bleeder Race 7 SUPER HIGHWAY

6.

Barrier Trials Race 1 BEAU GOSSE (unacceptable performance) DRAGON PRIDE (unacceptable performance) HANG'S CHOICE (unacceptable performance) Race 6 LEGION OF MERIT (unacceptable performance) Race 7 SUPER HIGHWAY (bleeder)

7.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1 BEAU GOSSE DRAGON PRIDE HANG'S CHOICE Race 4 CALIFORNIA CIBLE Race 6 INTREPID WINNER LEGION OF MERIT Race 7 SUPER HIGHWAY Race 9 HEALTHY HEALTHY

8.

Rolling Arrangement The track was rolled after Race 5