Recap by phillip woo

Regency Star won a three-horse battle after surging to a narrow lead 150m out chasing the leader Fighting Star on the fence. He made use of a better draw at his fifth start. Early favourite Spicy Grill stayed on well to finish a close second after travelling better than midfield on the fence. He's close to a win at this level or in Class Five if things don't pan out. Happily Friends found a couple just too good in the dying stages after briefly hitting the front 200m out travelling on the back of the eventual winner. He's pretty honest over this trip. Joy Master made good ground late to fill the frame without menacing the top three. He'll be a force to be reckoned with down in Class Five over a longer trip. Faribault made some ground without ever looking a threat after a rails run behind midfield. He's been around the frame in his past three starts. Good Beauty made good ground late down the outside from near last. He isn't getting any younger but has been finding the line better in his past two starts. Post-time favourite Melbourne Hall was a non-factor after getting posted without cover in midfield the entire race. He had an excuse. Fighting Star stopped badly 100m out after finding the lead from a wide draw. He's limited.

Racing Incident Report

Race Two: (179) - KYOTO HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

FARIBAULT began very awkwardly, resulting in its rider, K Teetan, losing the use of his left stirrup iron which he was able to regather shortly after the start.

As K Teetan regathered his left stirrup iron, FARIBAULT shifted out and lost ground.

JOY MASTER began only fairly.

REGENCY STAR shifted in at the start and bumped GOOD BEAUTY which in turn shifted in, resulting in COOLCELEB and SPICY GRILL being crowded for room outside HANG'S CHOICE.

SPICY GRILL, COOLCELEB and GOOD BEAUTY then continued to race tight which resulted in SPICY GRILL becoming unbalanced near the 1150 Metres and shifting out and in doing so inconvenienced COOLCELEB and GOOD BEAUTY.

From a wide barrier, LUMEN BABA was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, as GOOD BEAUTY was being taken out by COOLCELEB, it bumped heavily with LUMEN BABA which, after being shifted in, then got its head on the side and shifted in further.

This resulted in both GOOD BEAUTY and LUMEN BABA being inconvenienced.

Passing the 1100 Metres, COOLCELEB was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SPICY GRILL when being steadied to obtain cover.

Approaching the 800 Metres, MY MY MY travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind HAPPILY FRIENDS.

After the 800 Metres, MELBOURNE HALL was left racing wide and without cover.

Near the 550 Metres, HANG'S CHOICE lost ground when momentarily racing tight inside FARIBAULT which itself was racing tight inside MELBOURNE HALL.

JOY MASTER, which was following HANG'S CHOICE, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse and then after the 500 Metres was awkwardly placed behind HANG'S CHOICE when unable to improve between that horse and COOLCELEB.

Near the 450 Metres, GOOD BEAUTY raced tight outside COOLCELEB which lay out.

Approaching the 300 Metres, REGENCY STAR and FIGHTING STAR raced tight.

MELBOURNE HALL got its head on the side and lay out under pressure in the Straight.

Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of V Borges (GOOD BEAUTY), 6th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse's finishing position, he was nonetheless reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels to the end of the race where circumstances permit.

After the race, C Schofield reported that FIGHTING STAR did not feel comfortable in its action in tonight's race.

A veterinary inspection of FIGHTING STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

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

Also after the race, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, MELBOURNE HALL's failure to finish off the race was attributable to the horse travelling keenly in the early stages when racing wide and without cover.

A veterinary inspection of MELBOURNE HALL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of MY MY MY immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm.

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

MELBOURNE HALL, REGENCY STAR and SPICY GRILL were sent for sampling.