Recap by phillip woo

Tourbillon Diamond held off favourite Turin Redsun after sustaining a move from the 750m to lead 200m out for a second win over the 1,800m this season. He deserved the victory after several huge runs following a Group Three decision in November. Turin Redsun finished a close second after getting held up for a run until the 100m following a one-off trip in midfield. He should have won with uninterrupted running. Butterfield lost second late after following the move of Tourbillon Diamond from the rear. He can produce an odd good run now and then. Columbus County ran on steadily from behind midfield to fill the frame without menacing the top three. The trip's too short. Savvy Nine got going late from near the rear for a minor cheque. It was a return to form on his past couple of starts. Punted late Champion's Way just plodded over the last 100m after a prominent run. He's better suited at 1,400m or a mile. Late-fancied Ka Ying Star weakened over the final 100m after leading one off the fence for the most part. He didn't get an easy run and the big weight didn't help. Excellent Proposal never got into the act from behind midfield. it was another disappointing performance this season.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (755) - THE PREMIER PLATE (HANDICAP) - Class G3 - 1800Meters

Whilst in the saddling stalls, SAVVY NINE had a nail in its right front plate replaced.

SAVVY NINE was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the barriers and passed suitable to race.

MIGHTY GIANT was slow to begin.

TOURBILLON DIAMOND and BERLIN TANGO bumped at the start.

From the outside barriers, EXCELLENT PROPOSAL, SAVVY NINE and BUTTERFIELD were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Rounding the Home Turn, COLUMBUS COUNTY raced in restricted room between BUTTERFIELD and TURIN REDSUN.

In the early part of the Straight, BUTTERFIELD got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of TOURBILLON DIAMOND.

Approaching the 200 Metres, CHAMPION'S WAY shifted out and raced tight inside the hindquarters of TOURBILLON DIAMOND.

Close to the finishing line, EXCELLENT PROPOSAL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KA YING STAR when being shifted to the outside of that horse.

Because of this, EXCELLENT PROPOSAL was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race.

When questioned regarding his riding of TURIN REDSUN after the 700 Metres, M F Poon stated that he was instructed to obtain a position behind the speed in the early stages.

He said he was able to obtain a good position behind CHAMPION'S WAY in the early stages and then continued to follow that horse rounding the turn after the 900 Metres.

He said after the 650 Metres he was aware that TOURBILLON DIAMOND was commencing to improve its position around TURIN REDSUN, however, as he was of the view that CHAMPION'S WAY was a horse which would take him into the race, he elected not to shift to the outside of that horse as he felt that shifting out into a position without cover at the 600 Metres and commencing his run may be too early and which would not allow TURIN REDSUN to close the race off.

He said he therefore elected to remain racing behind CHAMPION'S WAY and allowed TOURBILLON DIAMOND to improve around his mount near the 600 Metres.

He added that after the 500 Metres he commenced to shift out to follow TOURBILLON DIAMOND, however, COLUMBUS COUNTY was improving its position to the outside of TURIN REDSUN and as that horse was racing tight inside BUTTERFIELD, he was not able to shift out.

He said at the entrance to the Straight he was able to shift out to race behind TOURBILLON DIAMOND and attempted to improve to the outside of that horse, however, BUTTERFIELD improved its position around TURIN REDSUN which resulted in him not being able to shift out at this time.

He said TURIN REDSUN then had difficulty obtaining clear running until approaching the 100 Metres after which the horse finished the race off strongly.

M F Poon further stated that in preparing for today's race he had noted that at its last start TURIN REDSUN had reached the lead near the 300 Metres, however, in his opinion, then did not finish the race off strongly over the latter stages to finish in third position.

He added that given what eventuated rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight he was of the opinion that TURIN REDSUN's best interests would have been better served by being shifted to the outside of CHAMPION'S WAY approaching the 600 Metres, however, maintained that at the time he was of the opinion that CHAMPION'S WAY would be able to take him into the race and reiterated his concern about TURIN REDSUN having to commence its run from the 600 Metres.

The Stewards contacted Mr D J Whyte, the trainer of TURIN REDSUN, who was not able to be on course for today's meeting.

Mr Whyte expressed disappointment that TURIN REDSUN was not shifted to the outside of CHAMPION'S WAY when the opportunity presented itself approaching the 600 Metres.

M F Poon was told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in not commencing to shift to the outside of CHAMPION'S WAY approaching the 600 Metres which would not have allowed TOURBILLON DIAMOND the opportunity to improve around TURIN REDSUN.

He was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he positions his mounts in such a manner to allow them the best opportunity to improve into the race at the appropriate time and to obtain clear running.

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

TOURBILLON DIAMOND and TURIN REDSUN were sent for sampling.