Recap by phillip woo

Enzemble had just enough left in the tank after perfectly rated run in front from gate five to score an upset win. He's clearly capable on his day but relished a step up in distance at his third run for his new trainer. Above finished well to make it close on the wire after getting held up for a run until the 200m travelling fourth last along the inside. He's always a chance over this trip. Vincy kept on well for a placing after getting a lovely run in the box-seat. He continues to race well of late. Natural Storm closed nicely to dead-heat for fourth with Murray's Partners after settling a distant last from a wide draw. It was a return to form on his past few runs with a step up in distance. Murray's Partners dashed nicely from near last and widest out to share fourth. He has been able to get on track in his past two runs. Favourite California Ten was only plodding over the last 100m after getting held up for a run until switching inside at the 250m travelling behind midfield. He had an excuse. Specked late Celestial Power ran on late without menacing three from the right after settling third last from the widest draw. He was always going to be set a task from his gate carrying top weight.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (714) - PIPER'S HILL HANDICAP - Class 3 - 2000Meters

RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE was slow to begin.

ENZEMBLE shifted out at the start and bumped PERFECT TO GREAT.

ABOVE was crowded for room on jumping between BLASTOISE and MURRAY'S PARTNERS which shifted out.

After this, ABOVE was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover.

From the outside barriers, NATURAL STORM and CELESTIAL POWER were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover.

After the 1700 Metres, DYNAMIC EAGLE was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1400 Metres was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead after the 900 Metres.

Passing the 1600 Metres, SO WE JOY commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of CALIFORNIA TEN.

Then at the 1450 Metres, SO WE JOY shifted out and bumped PAKISTAN FRIEND.

Approaching the 1200 Metres, FLYING MIGHTY and SO WE JOY raced tight, resulting in FLYING MIGHTY becoming unbalanced.

FLYING MIGHTY then continued to race in restricted room between PERFECT TO GREAT an SO WE JOY approaching and passing the 1000 Metres.

After the 900 Metres, SO WE JOY was left racing wide and without cover.

Approaching the 500 Metres, PERFECT TO GREAT and FLYING MIGHTY bumped.

Approaching the 150 Metres, CALIFORNIA TEN lay out and was directed back in away from the heels of RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE.

After the race, both K Teetan (RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE) and N Callan (PERFECT TO GREAT) stated that, in their opinions, their respective mounts had failed to see out the distance of today's race at the first time of asking.

When questioned regarding the improved performance of ENZEMBLE, Trainer K L Man stated that today's race as only its third for his stable.

He said ENZEMBLE had previously been reported to have blood in its trachea and he had been mindful of this condition since taking over the training of the horse.

He said at its most recent start the intention had been for the horse to be ridden in a forward position, however, ENZEMBLE was not able to show early speed on that occasion.

He said he again instructed the rider of ENZEMBLE to obtain a forward position in today's race and, in his opinion, the horse had benefited by being able to dictate the race in the lead.

He said whilst he believed that ENZEMBLE may improve somewhat on its recent form, he did not anticipate that the horse would be successful in today's race.

When questioned, T Piccone (PAKISTAN FRIEND) stated that he was asked to obtain a trailing position behind the leaders if possible given that the horse had recently finished off a barrier trial very strongly when ridden from the rear of the field.

He said in accordance with his instructions he commenced to shift PAKISTAN FRIEND across with runners in the early stages, but when a number of runners maintained their position to his inside, this resulted in PAKISTAN FRIEND being left racing wide passing the winning post on the first occasion.

He said as he would have had to make a lot of use of PAKISTAN FRIEND in an attempt to cross runners to his inside, he elected to steady his mount with a view to obtaining cover behind DYNAMIC EAGLE which he was able to do approaching the 1700 Metres.

He added PAKISTAN FRIEND was then taken wider and without cover by SO WE JOY after the 1500 Metres and rather than travelling unnecessarily wide, he elected to obtain a trailing position behind SO WE JOY.

He said these circumstances of the race in the early stages resulted in PAKISTAN FRIEND travelling further back in the field than has been intended.

Mr W Y So, the trainer of PAKISTAN FRIEND, confirmed the instructions had been to have the horse ridden in a trailing position behind the lead if possible.

He said he based this instruction on the fact that PAKISTAN FRIEND had not finished off its recent races when leading and that it had finished off its recent barrier trial very strongly when ridden from off the speed.

A veterinary inspection of PAKISTAN FRIEND immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer??which had been the third consecutive occasion that this had been reported following the race.

Mr So undertook to liaise with his allocated stable veterinarian as well as the Veterinary Officers form the Department of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare and Biosecurity Policy in respect of this finding.

Before being allowed to race again, PAKISTAN FRIEND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of PERFECT TO GREAT, SO WE JOY and BLASTOISE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Also after the race, FLYING MIGHTY was noted to be making an abnormal breathing noise.

A veterinary inspection of FLYING MIGHTY immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer" CALIFORNIA TEN, ENZEMBLE and ABOVE were sent for sampling.