Recap by phillip woo

Packing Award just outfinished Mr Ascendency to get up in the dying stages after his one-off-the-rail run worse than midfield. He rang up his sixth win - five of which have come from eight starts over this Valley trip - and he was first up since July. Well-backed Mr Ascendency stayed on nicely to just miss after his prominent run one off the fence. It was a fine effort on his first Valley outing. Savaquin came from last 500m out with only one horse wider to finish a close third. He is honest as the day is long. So We Joy nearly caused a boilover after hitting the front 50m out along the inside following his rail run behind midfield. It was a good effort on his Valley bow. Tianchi Monster just finished out of the frame after making his run third last following his slow start. He remained in this grade off a light weight and should be force over 1,800m in Class Three shortly. Telecom Fighters was overhauled late for a placing after his pace-stalking role. He needs to lead. The Irishman ran on without menacing from near the back. The change in course failed to work. Fa Fa was disappointing after his handy run along the fence. He is on his mark.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (176) - TOKYO HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1650Meters

TIANCHI MONSTER was slow to begin.

YOU'REMYEVERYTHING shifted in on jumping and bumped SO WE JOY.

After this, SO WE JOY and YOU'REMYEVERYTHING were steadied and shifted across behind runners.

Also from a wide barrier, SAVAQUIN was steadied on jumping to obtain cover.

Throughout the race, EVERYONE'S DELIGHT travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground.

A veterinary inspection of EVERYONE'S DELIGHT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

When questioned regarding his riding of THE IRISHMAN after the 700 Metres, R Maia stated that at that time he was following PACKING AWARD and whilst the opportunity to shift out from behind that horse and improve his position behind EVERYONE'S DELIGHT was available, he was of the opinion that THE IRISHMAN's best interests would be served by conserving ground and obtaining inside runs given that the horse was carrying 134 lbs tonight.

He said he therefore allowed SAVAQUIN to improve forward of THE IRISHMAN passing the 600 Metres and continued to follow PACKING AWARD.

He added that in the early part of the Straight he was able to shift to the inside of PACKING AWARD and obtain clear running, however, THE IRISHMAN got its head on the side and lay in under pressure which resulted in him having to direct his mount out away from the heels of FA FA to continue improving after the 250 Metres.

He said he continued to ride THE IRISHMAN along and was able to obtain clear running until the concluding stages at which time THE IRISHMAN raced close to the heels of PACKING AWARD and therefore he was not able to ride his mount out all the way to the end of the race.

R Maia was told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in not shifting out to race behind EVERYONE'S DELIGHT prior to the 600 Metres which would have prevented SAVAQUIN being able to improve its position around THE IRISHMAN.

He was further told that had he have shifted out to race behind EVERYONE'S DELIGHT, this would have provided THE IRISHMAN with the opportunity to shift immediately to the outside of EVERYONE'S DELIGHT rounding the Home Turn which would have provided THE IRISHMAN with clear and uninterrupted running in the Home Straight.

He was told to ensure that he positions his mounts so that they are able to improve into the race at the earliest opportunity and finish the race off as best as they can under the circumstances.

THE IRISHMAN, PACKING AWARD and MR ASCENDENCY were sent for sampling.