Recap by phillip woo

Restless in the stalls, Our Generation jumped well to land a spot three deep with cover behind midfield, swung the final bend with two wider out and quickened nicely to get up 30m out for a first win at his 11th outing. Fighting Boy pressed forward to settle worse than midfield along the fence after showing no pace early on, straightened near four deep and just out-finished Imperial Gallantry for second. Imperial Gallantry finished nicely down the outside after travelling fourth from the rear outside the eventual winner. Gorgeous Legend led from an awkward gate, cornered a length on top and was swamped for a placing in the final few metres. Lightning And Gold stayed on reasonably well with three wider out after travelling one off the fence beyond midfield. Fortune Giggles weakened over the final 100m after punching the breeze in second. Late-fancied favourite Newswire Free did well to find the fence fifth from the rear from a wide gate, straightened four deep and didn't find much when push came to shove. Step High didn't lift following a no-cover run in midfield. Early favourite Aztec Empire was eased down 100m out after failing to lift four deep following a one-out, one-back run. sMotif was hard ridden upon straightening following a box-seat run and was struggling.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (441)-CITI PERSONAL LOAN SERVICES HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1600Metres

FIGHTING BOY was slow to begin.

AZTEC EMPIRE shifted in at the start, resulting in STEP HIGH and LIGHTNING AND GOLD being hampered.

From outside barriers, DANEWIN EXPRESS, PRINCE FALCON and NEWSWIRE FREE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

After the 1300 Metres, STEP HIGH was left racing wide and without cover.

After the 1100 Metres, PRINCE FALCON commenced to travel ungenerously and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HIT A HOME RUN.

Approaching the 300 Metres, NEWSWIRE FREE was shifted out away from the heels of DIAMOND FRIENDS.

Passing the 300 Metres, LIGHTNING AND GOLD was momentarily held up for clear running.

NEWSWIRE FREE was badly held up for clear running from about the 150 Metres until passing the 100 Metres.

Passing the 100 Metres, LIGHTNING AND GOLD was steadied when disappointed for running between IMPERIAL GALLANTRY and OUR GENERATION which shifted out marginally.

Over the concluding stages, LIGHTNING AND GOLD was then awkwardly placed close to the heels of OUR GENERATION.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of AZTEC EMPIRE, B Prebble stated that he enjoyed a good run on AZTEC EMPIRE behind the speed.

He said after placing his mount under pressure rounding the Home Turn, AZTEC EMPIRE was initially one-paced, however, gave ground over the concluding stages and was disappointing.

He added that AZTEC EMPIRE did not feel comfortable in its action after the race.

Trainer W Y So stated that AZTEC EMPIRE had trained on well since its last start success and he was disappointed in the manner in which the horse raced today.

A veterinary inspection of AZTEC EMPIRE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

The performance of AZTEC EMPIRE, which had won its last three starts, was considered unacceptable.

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

A veterinary inspection of MOTIF immediately following the race confirmed the horse to be a "roarer" which had previously been reported.

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

NEWSWIRE FREE, OUR GENERATION and FIGHTING BOY were sent for sampling.