Recap by phillip woo

Post-time favourite Master Viking went straight to the front from gate one, cornered two lengths on top and kept finding to notch a third straight win despite a return to Class Four. Wah May Baby kept grinding away near the inside following a box-seat run for second. Debutant and early favourite Namjong Invincible finished nicely one off the fence following a rails run behind midfield to make it close for second. He'll be winning races. Fine Rock settled one off the fence in fourth, swung the final bend with two wider out and kept plugging away to just hold the late-fancied Sparkling Talent for fourth. Sparkling Talent ran on steadily five deep following a rails run travelling ahead of midfield in a decent first run for his new trainer Danny Shum Chap-sing. Kirov got going widest out at the 200m after travelling third from the rear from a wide gate. Wisky was patiently ridden second from the rear from an outside gate and got going late near the inside. Punted late, Regency Darling was caught deep on the speed early on until slotting in one off in second place at the 800m, straightened three deep under pressure and was stopping 130m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (504)-HAWTHORN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Metres

FISH N' CHIPS began awkwardly and shortly after the start was crowded for room inside STORM KID which shifted in.

NAMJONG INVINCIBLE began only fairly and shortly after the start was steadied and lost ground when crowded for room between FINE ROCK and SPARKLING TALENT, both of which shifted ground.

KIROV got its head up when being steadied in the early stages in order to be shifted across behind runners from the outside barrier.

Also from a wide barrier, WISKY was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

After being left racing wide and without cover after the 1000 Metres, REGENCY DARLING was allowed to improve its position passing the 900 Metres to race outside the leader.

After the 900 Metres, STORM KID was left racing wide and without cover.

Passing the 400 Metres, DRAGON HARMONY was steadied away from the heels of WISKY which got its head on the side and lay in when racing tight inside STORM KID.

After the race, B Prebble (REGENCY DARLING) stated that he had to do some work on the horse in the early stages to cross runners on his inside to eventually race outside the lead.

He said REGENCY DARLING raced fresh tonight being first up since October 2015 and because of this the horse was then not able to finish off the race.

He said he did not feel the horse was disappointing and would derive benefit from tonight's race.

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

A veterinary inspection of FISH N' CHIPS, VICTOR EMPEROR and DRAGON HARMONY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

MASTER VIKING and WAH MAY BABY were sent for sampling.