Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Monkey Jewellery just held on after getting the gaps when needed three off the fence to hit the front 150m out after a patient ride behind midfield. Well-backed Eight Trigrams came on nicely following a one-off run in midfield. He's shown some ability to place in two of six starts and may be good for two or even three wins next season. Bingo found a couple too good in the end after moving to the front near the 200m following a handy run on the fence. The big weight took its toll. Punted late Super Eighteen finished well after switching into the open 200m out after getting badly hampered passing the 300m travelling worse than midfield. He should have finished closer. Blastoise ran on well after travelling third from the rear. On the back of two eye-catching runs, he'll be winning races and will want an even further trip in time. Colorado High came on nicely from the rear of the field in a vastly-improved effort second-up with a switch to the turf.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (810) - VICTORY MARVEL HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

SPICY REALLY began awkwardly and then was steadied away from the heels of MONEYMORE which shifted out abruptly, Shortly after the start, BLASTOISE got its head up when crowded for room inside APOLLOS BOW which shifted in marginally before being corrected by its rider.

From wide barriers, COLORADO HIGH, WINNING TOGETHER and PLAY TO WIN were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Despite being vigorously ridden for some distance in the early stages, BINGO took some time to muster speed.

Approaching the 900 Metres, MONEYMORE became unbalanced of its own accord, got its head on the side and shifted out.

Near the 800 Metres, SPICY REALLY was momentarily tightened for room inside MONKEY JEWELLERY which was racing tight inside SUPER KIN.

After the 700 Metres, MONEYMORE got its head on the side and lay out.

After the 600 Metres, MONEYMORE, which continued to lay out, raced tight outside BINGO which improved between MONEYMORE and APOLLOS BOW.

After the 400 Metres, SUPER EIGHTEEN was held up for clear running and near the 300 Metres was crowded when improving into very tight running between EIGHT TRIGRAMS and SOLAR VICTORY which was commencing to give ground.

In this incident, SOLAR VICTORY became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by SUPER EIGHTEEN.

SOLAR VICTORY then continued to give ground.

A veterinary inspection of SOLAR VICTORY immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a minor wound to the right hind cannon.

MONKEY JEWELLERY lost its left front plate in the early part of the Straight.

SUPER KIN travelled wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres.

After the race, Z Purton reported that SUPER KIN made a number of abnormal breathing noises during the race.

A veterinary inspection of SUPER KIN immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

Before being allowed to race again, SUPER KIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

The performance of PLAY TO WIN, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, PLAY TO WIN 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 PLAY TO WIN immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse's trachea.

When questioned, G van Niekerk (SUPER EIGHTEEN) stated that approaching the first turn after the 900 Metres he was racing one horse off the rail and had EIGHT TRIGRAMS racing to the outside and in advance of SUPER EIGHTEEN.

He said as EIGHT TRIGRAMS was travelling better than SUPER EIGHTEEN at this time and as he did not wish to race on the rail, he elected to steady SUPER EIGHTEEN rather than remain racing inside EIGHT TRIGRAMS as had he have continued to race inside that horse, he would have been taken to the rail as EIGHT TRIGRAMS shifted in.

He said it was also his intention to shift to the outside of runners if possible rounding the Home Turn.

He said however that when a number of runners including EIGHT TRIGRAMS commenced to shift out approaching the 500 Metres, he believed he would have had to shift SUPER EIGHTEEN unnecessarily wide to improve around runners and therefore he elected to commence riding his mount along and improve inside EIGHT TRIGRAMS.

He added after racing tight between EIGHT TRIGRAMS and SOLAR VICTORY at the 300 Metres, he elected to direct to the outside of EIGHT TRIGRAMS approaching the 250 Metres.

He said as he did this clear running developed to the inside of EIGHT TRIGRAMS, however, at this stage he had already committed to shift to the outside of that horse.

He said after obtaining clear running near the 200 Metres, SUPER EIGHTEEN then finished off the race well.

MONKEY JEWELLERY and EIGHT TRIGRAMS were sent for sampling.