Recap by phillip woo

Late-fancied favourite Sempiternal enjoyed an uncontested lead from gate three, cornered a half-length on top from Ensuring and just staved off that rival to notch a third win from five starts following a gear change. Ensuring was posted without cover fore of midfield, pressed forward to sit second at the 800m, straightened three deep and stayed on gamely to make it close at the wire. He's come right in his past two starts and won't be far off a winning run. Redwood Baby settled one off in midfield, swung the final bend with two wider out and finished well to make it close. Executive Mandate was one off in a prominent spot, got shuffled back to midfield at the 800m, copped a check 500m out, straightened three deep and ran on steadily to edge out Monsieur Mogok to finish a distant fourth. Early favourite Monsieur Mogok eventually settled one-out, one-back after jumping alertly, cornered four-to-five deep and came up one-paced over the final 150m. Good Good View was ridden third from the rear from a wide gate and made some ground late without menacing. Agiaal never was a factor after a deep run worse than midfield without cover from a wide gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (297)-CLEVELAND HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1800Metres

SUPREME WINE was slow to begin.

MONSIEUR MOGOK shifted out at the start, resulting in TAKE TO THE LIMIT being bumped and in turn taken out onto BEST SHOW.

From wide barriers, AGIAAL, PACKING APPLAUSE and GOOD GOOD VIEW were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

For some distance after the 1100 Metres, SUPREME WINE proved difficult to settle and got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of SEMPITERNAL.

After the 900 Metres, TAKE TO THE LIMIT was taken wider after being bumped by REDWOOD BABY which shifted to the outside of the heels of EXECUTIVE MANDATE which was awkwardly placed behind MONSIEUR MOGOK.

For some distance after this, REDWOOD BABY raced tight between EXECUTIVE MANDATE and TAKE TO THE LIMIT which shifted in after being bumped by REDWOOD BABY, resulting in REDWOOD BABY becoming unbalanced, shifting in and bumping EXECUTIVE MANDATE which also became unbalanced.

After the 700 Metres, EXECUTIVE MANDATE and REDWOOD BABY (N Callan) raced tight as a result of REDWOOD BABY being awkwardly placed close to the heels of TAKE TO THE LIMIT.

N Callan was advised to ensure he exercises appropriate judgement when attempting to improve into tight running so as not to cause undue pressure to other runners or cause his own mount to be placed in an awkward position.

Near the 550 Metres, EXECUTIVE MANDATE was severely checked after improving inside the heels of MONSIEUR MOGOK where there was insufficient room.

BACKBENCH BLUES, which was positioned to the inside of EXECUTIVE MANDATE, was hampered in consequence.

EXECUTIVE MANDATE was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight.

After the 100 Metres, GOOD GOOD VIEW raced tight between BACKBENCH BLUES and TAKE TO THE LIMIT.

For the majority of the race, AGIAAL travelled wide and at times without cover and in the Straight gave ground.

When questioned, K Teetan stated that he had been asked to ride ENSURING, which was having its first race start at Happy Valley tonight, in a position outside the anticipated leader of the race SEMPITERNAL or behind the speed if another runner showed more pace than ENSURING in the early stages.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount along in the early stages, however, with both SEMPITERNAL and MONSIEUR MOGOK showing superior speed, it appeared to him that he would be left racing in a three wide position and therefore he attempted to steady ENSURING near the 1600 Metres and obtain a position with cover behind EXECUTIVE MANDATE.

He said due to the tempo of the race it took him some time to steady ENSURING in an attempt to position his mount behind EXECUTIVE MANDATE which allowed REDWOOD BABY the opportunity to improve its position inside the heels of ENSURING.

He said he was then not able to shift in to a two wide position behind EXECUTIVE MANDATE as to have done so at this time would likely have caused interference to REDWOOD BABY.

He said for this reason he was left racing in a three wide position without cover passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He added although ENSURING was obliged to race wide and without cover in the early and middle stages, it did provide the horse with the opportunity to improve its position when the tempo slackened after the 1000 Metres to race outside the leader SEMPITERNAL near the 800 Metres.

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

SEMPITERNAL and ENSURING were sent for sampling.