Recap by phillip woo

Post-time favourite Tangmere just held off Methane after dashing to the front 50m out following a patient ride fourth from the back for a first win at his 19th start. Methane ran on nicely near the outside after making his run three deep with cover outside the eventual winner. Green Dispatch ran on nicely after being held up for a run until the 150m travelling second from the back. It was a solid effort resuming fresh after winning his season debut in September. Early favourite Casa De Forca plodded soon after hitting the front 100m out following a one-off run in midfield. It was another honest performance but he's limited. All You Know finished well from the rear of the field. It was a better effort following a positive trial on the dirt. You can put a pen through the run of Universal Go Go who wasn't beaten far in the end after a wide and without cover run in midfield. Plikclone ran on without menacing after settling towards the rear from the widest gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (467) - MA TAU KOK HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

ORIENTAL ELITE was withdrawn on 3.3.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter UNIVERSAL GO GO (C Y Ho).

Before being allowed to race again, ORIENTAL ELITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

When being steadied from the outside barrier to obtain a position with cover, PLIKCLONE got its head up and began awkwardly.

MIGHTY POWER began awkwardly.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, TANGMERE momentarily raced in restricted room inside METHANE which was racing tight inside UNIVERSAL GO GO.

Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, PLIKCLONE raced tight inside TANGMERE which got its head on the side and lay in away from METHANE after initially being taken in by that horse.

Passing the 300 Metres, CASA DE FORCA was shifted to the inside of KANBEKI MOLLY to obtain clear running.

Near the 200 Metres, HAPPY HOUR raced in restricted room inside MIGHTY POWER which shifted out away from CASA DE FORCA before being straightened.

Passing the 150 Metres, CASA DE FORCA shifted out abruptly.

Close to the finishing line, PLIKCLONE was shifted in away from the heels of CASA DE FORCA which shifted in under pressure.

For the majority of the race, UNIVERSAL GO GO travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, B Shinn stated that he was instructed to try and lead on GREEN DISPATCH as the horse had previously been successful when ridden in this manner.

He said he rode his mount vigorously for some distance in the early stages, however, GREEN DISPATCH did not show early speed.

He said for this reason he was required to steady GREEN DISPATCH approaching the winning post on the first occasion and obtain a trailing position behind TANGMERE which resulted in GREEN DISPATCH settling much further back in the field than had been intended.

He said passing the 300 Metres he attempted to improve between UNIVERSAL GO GO and TANGMERE, however, GREEN DISPATCH was beaten for the run by TANGMERE which resulted in the horse being disappointed for running between those horses and GREEN DISPATCH being held up for clear running from near the 275 Metres until passing the 200 Metres.

He added GREEN DISPATCH then finished off the race strongly over the concluding stages.

When questioned, G van Niekerk stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on ALL YOU KNOW and possibly trail the leaders if circumstances permitted.

He said he was reluctant to ride the horse along in the early stages to do so as on the previous occasion when he had ridden ALL YOU KNOW, the horse travelled very keenly and proved difficult to settle.

He said in the early stages GREEN DISPATCH and KANBEKI MOLLY, which were drawn immediately inside of ALL YOU KNOW, were vigorously ridden along to obtain a forward position and he felt that he would have had to ride ALL YOU KNOW along in an attempt to improve around GREEN DISPATCH.

He said as that horse was being ridden to take up a forward position, he steadied ALL YOU KNOW to obtain a trailing position behind GREEN DISPATCH, however, when that horse did not show any early speed, despite being ridden along, he had to come back further to obtain cover as to have ridden ALL YOU KNOW along at this stage may have resulted in the horse having to cover unnecessary ground as he was aware that a number of horses drawn outside of ALL YOU KNOW were also being ridden to obtain a forward position.

He added when GREEN DISPATCH remained racing in a position one horse off the rail after passing the winning post on the first occasion, this resulted in ALL YOU KNOW racing in a three wide position with cover behind METHANE and much further back in the field than had been intended.

He added ALL YOU KNOW commenced to travel keenly approaching and passing the 1200 Metres and then continued to travel keenly in the middle stages.

TANGMERE and METHANE were sent for sampling.