Recap by phillip woo

Sum Win Dragon looped the field with a move 550m out after travelling third from the rear to win going away 200m out for an overdue win after seconds in two prior starts. He can win another over a mile or 1,800m at this track. Amazing Feeling rushed to the front from a wide gate 1,300m out and kept on gamely to hold second in a blanket finish for the minors. He's too consistent to ever write off over the 1,200m to mile at both tracks. Formula Galore stayed to the inside following a rails hugging ride chasing the speed in third to just miss second by a bob of heads. He's found it harder after a second-up win over the Valley 1,200m but this positive first effort over the mile does open up options. Never Better came on strongly widest out after settling last from gate 12 to snatch fourth. It was another honest performance with a step to the mile for the first time but he has trouble winning. Firming favourite Best Tango failed to sustain his move from behind midfield at the 550m out and came up one-paced over the last 150m. It was a disappointing effort despite some positive lead-up work following a stable change and is not one to take at short odds. Soul Achiever was given every chance following a midfield run and only plodded over the last 100m. He needs to strike a weaker Class Four.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (530)-JARDINE'S LOOKOUT HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Metres

SUM WIN DRAGON began only fairly.

Shortly after the start, LEOWL and MIDNITE PROMISE raced tight.

Despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, SPARKLING SWORD failed to muster speed.

SPARKLING SWORD then throughout the race travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, MUTUAL JOY was bumped by SOUL ACHIEVER which got its head on the side and shifted in away from LEOWL.

YOU HAVE MY WORD lost its right front plate after the 1400 Metres.

Rounding the Home Turn, BEST TANGO was brushed by MIDNITE PROMISE which improved into tight running between BEST TANGO and LEOWL.

SOUL ACHIEVER, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence.

When questioned, O Doleuze stated that, from the wide barrier, he had been asked to steady NEVER BETTER in the early stages and shift across to obtain a position close to the rail.

He said as NEVER BETTER was stepping up in distance tonight after having previously been racing over 1200 Metres, he anticipated that the horse would show more speed in the early stages than it did.

He said, despite him niggling at NEVER BETTER for a considerable distance after passing the winning post on the first occasion, NEVER BETTER was reluctant to improve its position and appeared to lose interest in the race.

He said passing the 700 Metres he was able to improve his position to follow the eventual winner SUM WIN DRAGON and when that horse shifted out to improve after the 600 Metres, he commenced to ride NEVER BETTER along vigorously in an endeavour to follow that horse.

He added NEVER BETTER gradually picked up ground and when shifted to the outside of runners at the entrance to the Straight then closed off strongly.

A veterinary inspection of YOU HAVE MY WORD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

The performance of YOU HAVE MY WORD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Having regard that this was the 4th occasion within 7 race starts that the horse had finished tailed out in its races, the Stewards ruled that YOU HAVE MY WORD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a series of consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.

BEST TANGO, SUM WIN DRAGON and AMAZING FEELING were sent for sampling.