Recap by phillip woo

Early favourite Joyful Trinity settled worse than midfield three deep with cover from a wide gate, straightened five deep and quickened nicely to win going away 200m out for a first win at his fourth start. He's got the tools to head higher. Solar Hei Hei came on nicely when shifting into the open five deep upon straightening following a rails run in midfield to just edge out Spicy Sure for second. Spicy Sure finished willingly with three wider out despite getting shuffled back to travel fourth from the rear coming to the final bend to make it tight for the Quinella spot. He's returned to form in recent runs and will be winning shortly. Merion was difficult to settle while travelling in a handy position, moved to second 50m out and swamped close to home. Bullish Smart grudgingly gave way after dictating a steady pace on the lead. Hammer King sat one off in second from an outside gate, poked his head in front 250m out and was only plodding over the final 100m. Plunged to jump favourite, Mighty Maverick was never properly tested following a prominent run along the fence. Super Lifeline never responded when asked for an effort with two wider out upon straightening following a midfield run despite a drop in grade. So Fast was withdrawn at the gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (646)-THE SKOL CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 2 - 1400Metres

After being loaded into the barriers, SO FAST became fractious and reared, resulting in it getting both front legs into the adjoining stall occupied by MERION for a considerable time.

Both SO FAST and MERION were removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said SO FAST was not suitable to race.

Acting on this advice, SO FAST was withdrawn by order of the Stewards.

Before being allowed to race again, SO FAST will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

MERION was found to be suitable to race.

After MERION (Z Purton) was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race, a member of the starting gate team assigned the duty of signalling the suitability or otherwise of horses to race mistakenly signalled that MERION was to be withdrawn, due in part to the misbelief that Z Purton was unsaddling the horse when in fact he was only adjusting the saddle.

At no stage was MERION officially notified as being withdrawn and accordingly that horse took its place in the field.

It is the intention of Management to review the circumstances of this incident and make the appropriate recommendations.

GORGEOUS KING was slow to begin.

Shortly after the start, UNIVERSAL UNION was steadied away from the heels of MIGHTY MAVERICK which shifted in.

Also shortly after the start, FIGHT HERO became unbalanced after being bumped by SOLAR HEI HEI.

HAMMER KING proved difficult to settle in the early and middle stages.

Near the 850 Metres, MERION commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of AMBER DRAGON.

MERION continued to race fiercely and shifted in away from the heels of AMBER DRAGON, causing SUPER LIFELINE to lose ground when crowded for room outside SOLAR HEI HEI which also became unbalanced when bumped by SUPER LIFELINE.

MERION then continued to prove very difficult to settle and continued to be checked away from the heels of HAMMER KING for a considerable distance.

Passing the 650 Metres, SUPER LIFELINE was shifted out away from the heels of MERION and bumped the hindquarters of JOYFUL TRINITY which became unbalanced.

Near the 600 Metres, SPICY SURE was awkwardly placed behind SOLAR HEI HEI.

In the early part of the Straight, MERION was held up for clear running behind HAMMER KING.

MIGHTY MAVERICK had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and over the final 150 Metres was held up for clear running and consequently was not able to be properly tested.

SPICY SURE got its head on the side and lay out in the early part of the Straight.

Then near the 75 Metres, SPICY SURE shifted in and made contact with SOLAR HEI HEI, obliging its rider, T H So, to stop riding and straighten his mount near the 50 Metres.

Throughout the race, AMBER DRAGON travelled wide and without cover.

After the race, K Teetan, the rider of HAMMER KING, stated that she had been instructed to ride the horse in a midfield position with cover from barrier 13 if possible.

He said after riding his mount along in the early stages HAMMER KING then commenced to prove very difficult to settle passing the 1300 Metres and, despite his attempts to restrain the horse, HAMMER KING would not relax and because of this raced further forward than had been intended.

He said after obtaining a position outside the leader BULLISH SMART and inside AMBER DRAGON, HAMMER KING continued to prove difficult to settle and he was not able to restrain his mount sufficiently to allow AMBER DRAGON to cross HAMMER KING to obtain cover.

A veterinary inspection of SUPER LIFELINE and MIGHTY MAVERICK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

MIGHTY MAVERICK, JOYFUL TRINITY and SOLAR HEI HEI were sent for sampling.