Recap by phillip woo

Outsider Chikorita came from towards the rear after a slow start to snatch victory on the wire from favourite Sell My Sole at his seventh local start. He proved an improved run last start following a downgrade. Sell My Sole found one just too good after reclaiming the lead 200m out from Winning Ways following a perfect run on the fence. King's Race got going to fill a placing without menacing the Quinella pair after a one-off run in midfield. The 1,200m's too short. Regency Poet just held his ground after slotting one-off in third with cover from a wide gate. He has shown some ability in his nine starts. Harrier Jet got going late for pick up a cheque after giving them too much of a head start travelling second last carrying top weight from an awkward gate. Punted late Winning Ways was stopping 100m out after working overtime to eventually clear Sell My Sole for the lead 800m out from. He's clearly more effective over the minimum Valley trip.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (760) - VIOLET HILL HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

SELL MY SOLE began awkwardly and then was bumped by HERCULES which shifted out.

WINNING WAYS shifted in at the start and inconvenienced GLORIOUS BUDDY.

SHANGHAI LAD shifted out at the start and bumped TRAVEL DATUK which in turn shifted out, resulting in FUN TIMES being crowded for room inside HARRIET JET which was unbalanced due to FUN TIMES shifting out and bumping its hindquarters.

CHIKORITA began awkwardly and lost ground and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners.

After being ridden along for a short distance in the early stages, HARRIER JET was steadied passing the 1150 Metres to obtain cover and then approaching the 1100 Metres became unbalanced after being bumped by FUN TIMES which was taken out by TRAVEL DATUK which was in turn taken out by SHANGHAI LAD which got its head on the side and shifted out away from KING'S RACE.

In this incident, REGENCY POET, which was racing outside HARRIER JET, was shifted out abruptly, resulting in SKY TREASURE being inconvenienced.

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, KING'S RACE was slow to muster speed.

SHANGHAI LAD lost its left front plate in the early stages.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, SKY TREASURE was bumped by KING'S RACE which was awkwardly placed outside GLORIOUS BUDDY which made the turn awkwardly.

Near the 200 Metres, TRAVEL DATUK was checked when crowded for room between GLORIOUS BUDDY (M Chadwick) which initially shifted in and crowded the room of TRAVEL DATUK and CHIKORITA (B Shinn) which shifted out to obtain clear running.

Whilst the Stewards accepted that the movement from both GLORIOUS BUDDY and CHIKORITA had caused the crowding to TRAVEL DATUK, nonetheless M Chadwick was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances whereas B Shinn was reprimanded and told to exercise more care when directing his mounts to obtain clear running.

Throughout the race, SKY TREASURE travelled wide and without cover.

After the race, KING'S RACE (C Y Ho) was found to be marked.

C Y Ho was fined the sum of $7,500.

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration that C Y Ho had previously been penalized this season for a like offence.

A veterinary inspection of TRAVEL DATUK and FUN TIMES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

CHIKORITA and SELL MY SOLE were sent for sampling.