Recap by phillip woo

Punted late General Redwood was given a patient ride third last but came with a sterling move through the centre to get the nose down late to deny post time favourite Dashing Maurison for a second win. Dashing Maurison kept on very well for second after moving to the lead 150m out after a wide trip from better than midfield. It was a solid run up in grade. Can't Go Wong ran on nicely near the inside to finish a close third after a rails run from behind midfield. He's always a chance at this course. Savvy Warrior stayed on for fourth after settling five lengths away in fourth behind the hot pace. He's given a decent sight in each of his three starts over the Valley 1,650m. Noble Pursuit ran on steadily for fifth after a one-off trip from behind midfield. Whowrotethatsong kept on one paced after a one-off trip from midfield. Mega Mastermind was left without a finishing effort after getting pressured for the lead by two others. Mighty Steed was always ready between when hampered at the head of the straight following a wide without cover trip attacking the pace outside both Mega Mastermind and Lakeshore Hero.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four : (688) - SAINT-CLOUD HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

Horse No 1 MIGHTY STEED (J384) Z Purton Bumped shortly after the start.

Near the 350 Metres was severely checked when disappointed for clear running between DASHING MAURISON and LAKESHORE HERO which was commencing to give ground.

When questioned Z Purton stated that his instructions were to go forward and race outside the expected leader MEGA MASTERMIND.

He said after riding his mount forward and being positioned to the outside of LAKESHORE HERO he was waiting for LAKESHORE HERO to obtain a trailing position behind MEGA MASTERMIND as he observed Apprentice P N Wong, rider of LAKESHORE HERO, looking to her inside and attempting to do so.

He said for some distance near the 1100 Metres MIGHTY STEED shifted in towards LAKESHORE HERO and made contact with that runner which resulted in his stirrup becoming entangled with the stirrup of Apprentice Wong.

He said for this reason he had some difficulty in restraining his mount for a short distance.

He added after the 1100 Metres when he was aware the pace of the event was fast and Apprentice Wong was not able to restrain her mount adequately to obtain cover, he then elected to obtain a position with cover but had some difficulty in doing so when MIGHTY STEED raced keenly.

He said on entering the Back Straight after the 900 Metres he was able to obtain a position with cover behind LAKESHORE HERO.

After considering the evidence the Stewards advised Jockey Purton that, in their opinion, he should have made a greater effort sooner to obtain a position with cover behind LAKESHORE HERO and MEGA MASTERMIND when those two runners maintained their position to his inside to endeavour to avoid the pace of the event being run too fast.

When questioned Z Purton stated that from the 700 Metres his mount improved to the inside of LAKESHORE HERO.

He said as a result he was obliged to ease his mount near the 500 Metres to start to improve to the outside of LAKESHORE HERO.

He said as he did so DASHING MAURISON improved quickly to his outside which prevented him from obtaining clear running to the outside of LAKESHORE HERO.

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

Horse No 2 ROMANTIC LAOS (G476) H Bowman Near the 350 Metres was steadied when endeavouring to improve between WHOWROTETHATSONG and MIGHTY STEED which shifted out when being checked.

Near the 150 Metres was steadied when crowded between WHOWROTETHATSONG and GENERAL REDWOOD, both of which shifted ground.

Horse No 3 MEGA MASTERMIND (L044) B Avdulla Bumped near the 200 Metres when giving ground.

When questioned B Avdulla stated that his instructions were to go forward and lead.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount in the early stages where he was able to hold the lead.

He said making the turn near the 1400 Metres his mount was pressured by LAKESHORE HERO but as MEGA MASTERMIND held a margin over LAKESHORE HERO he was reluctant to restrain his mount to allow that horse to cross.

He said for some distance after the 1200 Metres he maintained his position in the lead as he was waiting for LAKESHORE HERO and also MIGHTY STEED to desist from holding their position to his outside and he felt it would be detrimental to his mount's chances to allow those runners to cross.

Having considered his explanation the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Avdulla were reasonable in the circumstances.

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

Horse No 4 GENERAL REDWOOD (L102) Y L Chung For some distance near the 1100 Metres was steadied to avoid WHOWROTETHATSONG when racing keenly.

Near the 500 Metres was steadied when racing in restricted room between NOBLE PURSUIT and CAN'T GO WONG.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 6 CELTIC TIMES (G230) K Teetan Leaving the 500 Metres was steadied when unable to improve between CAN'T GO WONG and GENERAL REDWOOD.

Horse No 7 ACE POWER (J181) A Atzeni Bumped shortly after the start.

Horse No 8 SAVVY WARRIOR (K257) C Y Ho Near the 600 Metres was momentarily crowded by MIGHTY STEED which shifted in.

Horse No 9 WHOWROTETHATSONG (L048) A Badel After the 350 Metres was bumped on the hindquarters by ROMANTIC LAOS.

Horse No 10 DASHING MAURISON (K374) H Bentley Near the 350 Metres became unbalanced when bumped by MIGHTY STEED as DASHING MAURISON prevented MIGHTY STEED from shifting out to improve.

Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 11 CAN'T GO WONG (H087) M F Poon Near the 200 Metres made contact with LAKESHORE HERO and MEGA MASTERMIND when both runners shifted slightly when giving ground.

Horse No 12 LAKESHORE HERO (J288) P N Wong Bumped near the 200 Metres when giving ground.

When questioned Apprentice P N Wong stated that her instructions were to go forward and hold an on-pace position.

She said in accordance with those instructions she rode the horse to hold a position to the outside of MEGA MASTERMIND in the early stages but after the first turn near the 1400 Metres she was aware the pace of the event was fast.

She said for this reason she endeavoured to restrain her mount with a view to taking a trailing position behind MEGA MASTERMIND, however, LAKESHORE HERO raced too keenly, particularly after making contact with MIGHTY STEED near the 1100 Metres and failed to respond to her efforts to restrain which resulted in it maintaining its position to the outside of MEGA MASTERMIND.

Trainer D J Hall confirmed the instructions and expressed satisfaction with the efforts made by Apprentice Wong to restrain her mount.

He added that LAKESHORE HERO in both its races and track work had a tendency to race keenly and was difficult to settle on occasions.

After considering Apprentice Wong's explanation the Stewards were satisfied that she had made sufficient effort in endeavouring to obtain a position with cover in the early stages, however, the racing manners of her mount had prevented her from being able to do so.

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