Recap by phillip woo

In a blanket finish, Shadow Breaker came from last at the top of the straight and widest out to snatch victory on the wire. He was returning off a career low in the ratings after managing only a single placing from 14 starts last term. Favourite Ernest Feeling found one just too good after surging to the lead 100m out following a one-off trip behind midfield. He'll be striking gold shortly after a silver performance in three straight runs. Charizard ran on well to make it close on the wire after a one-off trip in midfield. He does have a bottom in sight after ending last season with two positive efforts. King Dragon ended up on the bottom of the quartet after quickening nicely from near last to look a winning chance 100m out. It was a good effort first run back following a nose bleed in April. More Than Enough weakened 100m out after hitting the front mid-stretch slotting effectively one-out, one-back from a wide draw. Nunchuks made some ground without ever looking a threat settling four back on the fence. He doesn't have many if any points in hand off his current mark. Favourite Faithful Trinity failed to find anything when push came to shove after a rail run better than midfield. It was a disappointing effort.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (80) - LOCKHART HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

AGILITY STAR began awkwardly.

KING DRAGON was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

From the outside barrier, SHADOW BREAKER was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, YOUNG THUNDER and SMART WONGCHOY raced tight.

Passing the 1200 Metres, SMART WONGCHOY shifted in and bumped YOUNG THUNDER.

At the 1100 Metres, PEARL CHAMPION was left racing wide and without cover.

Rounding the Home Turn, NUNCHUKS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FAITHFUL TRINITY when being shifted to the outside of that horse to improve.

At the entrance to the Straight, CHARIZARD was shifted in away from the heels of ERNEST FEEING to obtain clear running.

After the race, Z Purton reported that after beginning well, CHATER PINS was able to obtain a position behind the speed in the early stages which was further forward than had been expected.

He said CHATER PINS travelled too keenly throughout the early and middle stages when the race was being run at a good tempo.

He said because of CHATER PINS' failure to relax, the horse was then not able to finish off the race after coming under heavy pressure prior to the 400 Metres.

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

When questioned, A Badel stated that SMART WONGCHOY is well-known to him and which had previously hung in in a number of its races.

He said because of this racing trait he was instructed to take up a forward position on SMART WONGCHOY as is usual and attempt to find the rail at the earliest opportunity.

He said after riding SMART WONGCHOY positively in the early stages, the horse did not show as much early speed as anticipated and this resulted in SMART WONGCHOY taking some time to be able to follow YOUNG THUNDER across after that horse cleared runners to its inside.

He said whilst in ordinary circumstances he would have remained racing outside YOUNG THUNDER passing the 1200 Metres, given the amount of use that he had had to make on SMART WONGCHOY, the good tempo of the race in the early stages, the horse's history of hanging in and his instruction to find the rail, he elected to allow SMART WONGCHOY to gradually improve its position forward of YOUNG THUNDER and obtain the rail after the 1000 Metres.

He said SMART WONGCHOY travelled only fairly in the middle stages before coming under pressure prior to the Home Turn.

He said SMART WONGCHOY gave him only a limited response when ridden along in the early part of the Straight, however, again came under pressure after the 300 Metres and then gave ground over the concluding stages which he attributed to the amount of use that he had to make of SMART WONGCHOY in a race which was run at a good tempo in the early and middle stages.

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

After the race, J Moreira said that the pace of the race in the early and middle stages did not allow FAITHFUL TRINITY the opportunity to relax and finish off the race.

He said FAITHFUL TRINITY came under heavy pressure at the 400 Metres and then did not close off the race over the concluding stages.

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

SHADOW BREAKER and ERNEST FEELING were sent for sampling.