Recap by phillip woo

Villa Fionn came from near last at the top of the straight to overhaul favourite Loyal Baby in the final few strides for a second win from his past three starts. He has been racing consistently well all season long but will find himself in Class Three, where he has struggled in the past. Loyal Baby did everything but get the win after hitting the front 250m out following a dream run in the box-seat. He is as honest as the day is long but has trouble winning. HK Dragon ran on strongly down the outside to finish a close third after settling second last after a slow start in his initial run over this course and distance. He's closing in on a win. Punted late, Copartner Era came from last to fill the frame without threatening the top three. He's not easy to get right but had late-market action on this occasion. Hercules kept on all right after taking off from the 750m after making his run towards the rear early on. It was another typical effort despite a rise in trip. Mister Arm weakened after dictating the run. He'll likely be back in Class Five, where he was a winner in December. Amazing News just held his ground after a rails run in midfield. He has been promising without delivering lately.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (430) - SPRUCE HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

VILLA FIONN and RED BRICK FIGHTER bumped at the start.

HK DRAGON began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of HERCULES.

MISTER ARM and MORE THAN ENOUGH brushed on jumping.

COPARTNER ERA began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners.

From a wide barrier, FAIRY FLOSS was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages, however, near the 1400 Metres was left racing wide and without cover and then after the 1200 Metres was allowed to improve its position but continued to race wide and without cover.

Then in the Straight, FAIRY FLOSS gave ground.

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

Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, COPARTNER ERA and HK DRAGON bumped.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, HERCULES got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of VILLA FIONN when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse.

Then near the 1300 Metres, HERCULES got its head on the side and lay in away from the heels of VILLA FIONN, resulting in HK DRAGON racing in restricted room.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, VILLA FIONN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of JUBILATION.

After the 900 Metres, RED BRICK FIGHTER raced close to the heels of MORE THAN ENOUGH and after the 850 Metres was shifted out away from the heels of that horse, resulting in RED BRICK FIGHTER travelling wide and without cover.

After the 800 Metres, HK DRAGON was shifted out away from the heels of VILLA FIONN and in doing so bumped COPARTNER ERA which at this time was improving outside HK DRAGON.

After this, HK DRAGON and COPARTNER ERA raced tight.

COPARTNER ERA was then steadied approaching the 700 Metres to obtain cover behind HK DRAGON.

Passing the 150 Metres, VILLA FIONN shifted out under pressure.

When questioned regarding the performance of MORE THAN ENOUGH, K Teetan stated that it was hoped that the horse would be able to obtain an outright lead as it did last start when successful.

He said when MISTER ARM was ridden along to the inside of MORE THAN ENOUGH in the early stages to obtain a forward position, this resulted in MORE THAN ENOUGH having to race outside MISTER ARM.

He said he had hoped that MISTER ARM would be steadied by its rider which would have allowed MORE THAN ENOUGH to improve into the lead as he was of the opinion that the horse races best when able to obtain the lead on the rail, however, MISTER ARM continued to maintain its position.

He said he felt that if he allowed MORE THAN ENOUGH to improve its position after the 1100 Metres forward of MISTER ARM, that horse would have improved with MORE THAN ENOUGH and therefore he would have made too much use of the horse without improving its position.

He said when racing outside MISTER ARM, MORE THAN ENOUGH would not relax and travelled too keenly.

He said he had to ride his mount along earlier than he would have hoped when RED BRICK FIGHTER improved its position around MORE THAN ENOUGH near the 700 Metres.

He said he was reluctant to allow that horse to cross MORE THAN ENOUGH as he did not believe that this would assist his mount in finishing the race off.

He added that MORE THAN ENOUGH gave him only a limited response in the early part of the Straight, however, by the 200 Metres its run had ended and then over the concluding stages gave ground noticeably.

He said whilst MORE THAN ENOUGH was disappointing in tonight's race, he was of the opinion that the circumstances of this race were markedly different from its last start when successful after obtaining an outright lead.

A veterinary inspection of MORE THAN ENOUGH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

The performance of MORE THAN ENOUGH, a last start winner and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, MORE THAN ENOUGH will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

After the race, H Bentley stated that after travelling satisfactorily in the early and middle stages, AMAZING NEWS did not quicken in the Straight as he anticipated and then did not finish the race off.

He said he looked down to his left hand side on two occasions over the concluding stages as he felt that he may have been experiencing difficulties with his saddle or surcingle, however, after the race both pieces of equipment were in order.

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

VILLA FIONN and LOYAL BABY were sent for sampling.