Recap by phillip woo

Good For You shot clear at the 150m after positioning beautifully fourth on the fence from a good gate. It wasn't a strong test and he does usually run out a strong 1,400m so the step back to 1,200m suited in a rare Valley appearance here. Early favourite Lightning Missile straightened on top after sharing the lead with Oriental Elite to his outside and wouldn't go down without a fight. He isn't far off a win. Letsgofree got going late for a placing near the inside after travelling for the most one from the rear following a slow break. He is well-rated off an early season win over this trip. Autopay made a steady bid to take fourth after settling fourth from the rear. He pops up now and then. Post-time favourite Dr Race produced only a grinding after settling one off in midfield following a good start. He's an honest sprinter at the Valley but is limited. Oriental Elite faded at the 300m after going forward from a tricky gate to vie for the lead.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (558) - D'AGUILAR PEAK HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

STAR SUPERIOR was withdrawn on 10.4.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter GLORIAM (N Callan).

Before being allowed to race again, STAR SUPERIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

As T Berry was unable to fulfil the engagement on THE HAPPY BUNCH due to being overweight, M Chadwick was substituted as the rider of that horse.

T Berry was fined the sum of $5,000.

LOVE CHUNGHWA shifted in at the start and bumped GLORIAM which became badly unbalanced and then shifted in towards the heels of GOOD FOR YOU.

DR RACE and LIGHTNING MISSILE bumped at the start.

LIGHTNING MISSILE then shifted out and bumped STARLOT.

From a wide barrier, LETSGOFREE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Making the first turn approaching the 1000 Metres, AUTOPAY got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed behind DR RACE.

AUTOPAY then continued to prove very difficult to settle in the middle stages.

Passing the 300 Metres, AUTOPAY was shifted to the outside of THE HAPPY BUNCH to obtain clear running.

LETSGOFREE, which was following, improved to the inside of AUTOPAY, but was then held up for clear running passing the 200 Metres.

Throughout the race, YOUNG EMPIRE travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, U Rispoli (STARLOT) stated that he was asked to obtain a position one horse off the rail and it was felt that the horse would be able to be positioned in about midfield.

He said after being fractious in the barriers he rode his mount along in the early stages and commenced to shift across to race behind LIGHTNING MISSILE near the 1100 Metres.

He said he had intended to obtain a trailing position behind AUTOPAY which was racing behind the leaders, however, LOVE CHUNGHWA was ridden along at this time to assume the position behind AUTOPAY which resulted in STARLOT being left three wide and further back in the field than had been intended.

He said as it was no longer available for him to obtain a position one horse off the rail, he rode his mount along after the 1000 Metres to obtain a three wide position behind GOOD COMPANION.

He said as YOUNG EMPIRE had been racing in a four wide position towards the leaders and had come under pressure prior to the 500 Metres, he believed that shifting to the outside of that horse would have resulted in STARLOT being taken unnecessary wider and for this reason he improved to the inside of GOOD COMPANION rounding the Home Turn.

He added after being shifted to the inside of ORIENTAL ELITE after the 300 Metres, STARLOT then finished off the race fairly.

When questioned, J Moreira stated that as it was believed that there was not an abundance of speed previously shown by the horses engaged in this race, it was felt that ORIENTAL ELITE, which had only three race starts, may be able to obtain a more forward position than had been the case in its previous starts.

He said for this reason he rode his mount along in the early stages and was able to shift in to race outside LIGHTNING MISSILE making the turn near the 1000 Metres.

He said ORIENTAL ELITE raced greenly tonight and when THE HAPPY BUNCH improved around his mount near the 650 Metres, ORIENTAL ELITE was reluctant to maintain its position and he had to ride it along to remain racing behind that horse.

He added ORIENTAL ELITE made the Home Turn awkwardly and then gave ground.

He said, in his opinion, the horse is very immature at this stage of its racing career.

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

DR RACE, GOOD FOR YOU and LIGHTNING MISSILE were sent for sampling.