Recap by phillip woo

Swot Troopers Wind took control 60m out after taking full advantage of gate one to travel in the box seat for a third career win. It was a season best effort following time off to reset in Conghua. Post-time favourite Sunny Delight eventually got going to overhaul long-time leader Mister Monte in the final few strides for second after a patient ride two from the rear. He keeps promising without delivering. Mister Monte ended third after being gifted an easy time in front after clearing to the front rounding the first bend. He's not reliable but was suited off a lightweight. Painter kept grinding away after a one-off run better than midfield to fill the frame without menacing the top three. It was a better effort. Early favourite Red Impact weakened 100m out after tracking moderate fractions one-off the fence. He's nothing special. United Endeavors ran on without menacing from towards the rear after a slow start. He's still learning the ropes. So Awesome was in trouble 400m out after a wide run without cover fore of midfield. He had no favours in the run stepping up to a mile for the first time. Shadow Breaker made no impression ridden cold from a wide draw. He continues to disappoint in his past five runs.

Racing Incident Report

Race One: (712) - ROBINSON HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

SUNNY DELIGHT shifted out on jumping and bumped UNITED ENDEAVORS which became unbalanced and shifted out and bumped SURE WIN WIN.

After this, SUNNY DELIGHT, UNITED ENDEAVORS and SURE WIN WIN were all steadied to obtain cover.

When being steadied to obtain cover, SUNNY DELIGHT shifted out after travelling a short distance and again bumped UNITED ENDEAVORS which in turn shifted out and hampered SHADOW BREAKER which, from the outside barrier, was also being steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

UNITED ENDEAVORS then shifted in approaching the winning post on the first occasion and bumped the hindquarters of SUNNY DELIGHT.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion, MISTER MONTE shifted in and bumped SWOT TROOPERS WIND which became unbalanced.

After the 1300 Metres, PAINTER commenced to travel keenly and approaching the 1200 Metres was steadied away from the heels of RED IMPACT.

PAINTER continued to prove difficult to settle and making the turn near the 1000 Metres shifted out across the heels of SO AWESOME, resulting in PAINTER losing ground and V CHEVALIERS, which was racing outside PAINTER, being inconvenienced.

When questioned, H Bentley stated that as SO AWESOME was attempting the 1650 Metres at Happy Valley for the first time tonight, he was asked to position the horse with cover behind the speed from barrier

4.

He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion he was racing outside and behind PAINTER which was racing in a one-off position.

He said as there was no horse to the inside of PAINTER, he anticipated that that horse would either shift across to race on the rail or be taken in towards the rail by RED IMPACT.

He said after passing the winning post on the first occasion PAINTER remained racing one horse away from the rail which resulted in SO AWESOME being left racing in a three wide position without cover.

He added that after the 1200 Metres he allowed his mount to improve its position with a view to clearing RED IMPACT and racing outside MISTER MONTE which was leading the race.

He said when he improved around RED IMPACT, that horse commenced to travel keenly and he believed that in order to cross RED IMPACT, he would have had to make considerable use of his horse, therefore he decided that it was in the best interests of SO AWESOME not to be ridden along at this stage of the race which resulted in the horse then having to race wide and without cover for the remainder of the race.

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

SWOT TROOPERS WIND and SUNNY DELIGHT were sent for sampling.