Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Astrologer dashed strongly to get up in deep stretch for the win after biding his time deep with cover behind midfield. He's now won two of four starts and there's likely more upside to come from the three-year-old. Meridian Genius dashed strongly down the outside after settling a clear last from a wide draw to nearly land a betting plunge. He proved a last-start win in Class Four was not a fluke. Farshad zipped home late along the inside to finish a close third after a rails run behind midfield. He lived up an improved effort last start following a step back to sprinting. Decisive Twelve ended next best after clearing to the lead passing the 900m from a wide draw. He continues to hover around the finish in half his past six starts. Firming to nearly jump favourite Stock Legend had every chance and came up rather one-paced after a rails run in midfield. He's still to hit a bottom after winning four times last term. Birdsville made some ground late down the outside without menacing after settling second last from an awkward gate. It was a shade better effort. A Smile Like Yours peaked on his run 100m out after looming a chance mid-straight following a three-to-four deep run better than midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (314) - CLEVELAND HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

ASTROLOGER and ROYAL CAMPBELL bumped at the start.

A SMILE LIKE YOURS and SEVEN HEAVENS bumped at the start, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.

GOOD VIEW CLARICO began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped MERIDIAN GENIUS.

MERIDIAN GENIUS, from the outside barrier, was then steadied to obtain cover.

BIRDSVILLE was also steadied from a wide barrier in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Shortly after the start, STOCK LEGEND and MOMENTUM GALAXY bumped.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, SPONTANEOUS (M Chadwick) shifted in, resulting in STOCK LEGEND racing tight inside SPONTANEOUS.

As SPONTANEOUS was directed out to relieve the tightening to STOCK LEGEND, SPONTANEOUS got its head up on a number of occasions and proved very difficult to settle.

As SPONTANEOUS continued to race ungenerously, that horse lost ground, resulting in MOMENTUM GALAXY being checked away from the heels of SPONTANEOUS and also losing ground.

M Chadwick was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that the racing manners of SPONTANEOUS during this incident had played a significant role in the manner in which the horse gave ground abruptly, nonetheless he was reprimanded and told he must make every endeavour to maintain his position in races so as not to cause interference to runners travelling behind his mounts.

At the 500 Metres, A SMILE LIKE YOURS shifted out away from the heels of GOOD VIEW CLARICO after being very awkwardly placed behind that horse.

Approaching the 450 Metres, MOMENTUM GALAXY momentarily raced in restricted room between ASTROLOGER and FARSHAD, both of which shifted ground.

At the entrance to the Straight, BIRDSVILLE was shifted out a number of horses to obtain clear running.

MOMENTUM GALAXY was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight.

Throughout the race, GOOD VIEW CLARICO travelled wide and without cover.

A veterinary inspection of ROYAL CAMPBELL and MOMENTUM GALAXY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

ASTROLOGER and MERIDIAN GENIUS were sent for sampling.