Recap by phillip woo

Well-backed Charizard came with a steady bid after a one-off trip in midfield to deny the favourite Loyal Baby in the final bound. The win was deserved after placing in back-toback runs. Loyal Baby did everything but get the win after putting his head in front 50m out after making his run on the leader's back. He's very close to a win after second in three straight runs. Punted late, Zone D finished strongly to only go under by a head after weaving a run from near last rounding the final bend. It was a good return to the races tyring the Valley mile for the first time. Plunged late, Chater Pins stayed on well to fill the frame after making use of gate one to settle better than midfield along the fence. He hasn't been too far off the finish in three of four starts. More Than Enough grudgingly gave way after clearing Faithful Trinity for the lead 1,250m out from a tricky gate. He rarely procures a bad run over this trip but isn't a prolific winner. Great Treasure ran on steadily without menacing after settling five back along the fence. Age does appear to be getting the better of him now. Ernest Feeling came up one-paced over the final 150m with his move from towards the rear at the 500m mark. He didn't get the pace to suit.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (200) - THE ST ANDREW'S CHALLENGE QUAICH (HANDICAP) - Class 4 - 1650Meters

LAPUTA shifted out at the start and bumped LOYAL BABY which then shifted in and brushed SHINY TWO.

MORE THAN ENOUGH shifted out at the start, resulting in ERNEST FEELING, MISSION BRAVO and SURE WIN WIN being hampered.

After this, ERNEST FEELING, MISSION BRAVO and SURE WIN WIN were all shifted across behind runners from the outside barriers.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, ERNEST FEELING was steadied away from the heels of LAPUTA which shifted in.

Near the 1350 Metres, GREAT TREASURE momentarily raced in restricted room inside SHINY TWO which shifted in before being shifted out to relieve the crowding.

CHATER PINS travelled keenly approaching and passing the 1300 Metres and got its head up when awkwardly placed behind LOYAL BABY passing the 1000 Metres.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, SHINY TWO, which was being ridden along to maintain its position, got its head on the side and shifted out.

As SHINY TWO shifted out, LAPUTA, which had been following that horse, improved into tight running between SHINY TWO and GREAT TREASURE.

LAPUTA was then steadied passing the 550 Metres when disappointed for running between GREAT TREASURE and SHINY TWO (H Bentley) which shifted in.

ZONE D, which was following LAPUTA, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse in consequence.

As the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that SHINY TWO had shifted out into a true three wide position and given that the horse had raced greenly throughout the race, no further action was taken other than H Bentley was advised to do his utmost to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances.

Passing the winning post, ZONE D and CHARIZARD raced tight.

After the race, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, ERNEST FEELING's run tonight was not as disappointing as it may have seen.

He said after the 600 Metres he was following LAPUTA and when that horse was disappointed for running approaching the 500 Metres, LAPUTA shifted to the outside of SHINY TWO which resulted in ERNEST FEELING and LAPUTA racing tight.

He said he was unable to prevent LAPUTA from improving to the outside of SHINY TWO at this time which resulted in ERNEST FEELING being taken wider rounding the Home Turn.

He added after this when placed under pressure, ERNEST FEELING finished off the race fairly.

A veterinary inspection of ERNEST FEELING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

When questioned, A Badel (ZONE D) stated that at the entrance to the Straight he considered improving his position to the inside of CHATER PINS and outside LOYAL BABY.

He said however that after the 300 Metres he was still a number of lengths behind those horses and as he was concerned that either horse may shift ground, resulting in ZONE D not being able to improve between those horses, he elected to commence to shift to the outside of CHATER PINS near the 250 Metres.

He added had he have been closer to the run between those horses, he would have pursued that run, but given the circumstances he felt that it was more prudent to shift to the outside of runners to ensure that ZONE D was able to obtain clear running.

He said he was able to continually ride his mount along in the Straight until near the 50 Metres at which point ZONE D commenced to lay in behind CHARIZARD when being directed into clear running to the outside of that horse.

He said after the 50 Metres he was able to obtain clear running to the outside of CHARIZARD and ZONE D finished off the race strongly.

CHARIZARD and LOYAL BABY were sent for sampling.