Recap by phillip woo

Universal Crown kept on gamely after clearing favourite Telecom Missile for the lead 1,000m out for a second win from nine starts. He has been racing well all season long. Punted late Vector stayed on well for second after getting all favours in the box-seat. He proved a placing last start was not a fluke and can get away with a race shortly. Favourite Telecom Missile fought on reasonably well angling towards the outside fence 400mout after a pace-stalking run. It was another honest performance. Firming late in betting G One Excellent got going late to fill the frame settling fourth last from a tricky gate. It was a better effort at his second start following a downgrade. One Step Ahead ran on without menacing from towards the rear. He couldn't make a major impact on this occasion but he rarely produces a bad run. Alloy Star made only a mild bid after a one-off trip behind midfield. He likely needed the run in his first start after getting withdrawn at the gate in February. Little Player made some ground late after biding his time four from the rear following a sluggish start. He's still searching for a rating bottom. Takingufurther will sleep well after a tough run in midfield from a wide draw.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (663) - SOMERSET HANDICAP - Class 5 - 1200Meters

LITTLE PLAYER began only fairly, shifted out and bumped TOWARDS SUCCESS.

From wide barriers, SUPER FLAMES and VICTORIA GENERAL were steadied in the early stages.

G ONE EXCELLENT was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Despite being vigorously ridden for some distance in the early stages, TAKINGUFURTHER was slow to muster speed and throughout the race travelled wide and without cover.

Making the turn at the 900 Metres, LITTLE PLAYER got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of TOWARDS SUCCESS.

LITTLE PLAYER continued to lay out and passing the 800 Metres lost ground when very awkwardly placed close to the heels of TOWARDS SUCCESS.

SUPER FLAMES, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence.

LITTLE PLAYER then continued to lay out and again lost ground approaching and passing the 600 Metres when shifting out and racing tight inside ONE STEP AHEAD.

After the 500 Metres, G ONE EXCELLENT was awkwardly placed behind ALLOY STAR.

Passing the 400 Metres, TAKINGUFURTHER was shifted out away from the heels of G ONE EXCELLENT which, after initially being taken out by ALLOY STAR, then shifted out away from that horse.

VICTORIA GENERAL, which was racing outside TAKINGUFURTHER, was inconvenienced in consequence.

In the early part of the Straight, ONE STEP AHEAD lay out.

When questioned, B Shinn (TELECOM MISSILE) stated that in discussions earlier this morning with Mr C Fownes, trainer of TELECOM MISSILE, it was anticipated that wide in the Home Straight would provide a better racing surface than that closer to the rail.

He said subsequent to the discussions he walked the track prior to the first race which confirmed to him that the ground closer to the running rail may be inferior.

He said therefore it was decided to shift TELECOM MISSILE outside in the early part of the Straight in today's race.

He said rounding the Home Turn TELECOM MISSILE was travelling strongly, however, after being placed under pressure passing the 300 Metres did not finish the race off as strongly as anticipated.

He added that TELECOM MISSILE today finished the race off in a similar manner to its last start when the horse did not find the line over the concluding stages after appearing to have the race won.

After the race, M Chadwick stated that, in his opinion, the manner in which TOWARDS SUCCESS weakened in the Straight indicated to him that the horse did not handle today's track conditions.

A veterinary inspection of TOWARDS SUCCESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

On return to the stables, it was reported that VICTORIA GENERAL had bled.

A subsequent endoscopic examination of VICTORIA GENERAL confirmed that the horse had bled from both nostrils and also found it to be a "roarer??which had previously been reported.

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

TELECOM MISSILE, UNIVERSAL CROWN and VECTOR were sent for sampling.