Recap by phillip woo

Favourite Exuberant took control 150m out after getting a lovely run one off in midfield for a maiden win at his fourth start. The writing had been on the wall and he made full use of a better draw. Punted late Winning Delago kept on gamely for second after reclaiming the lead from Day Day Rich 250m out following a pace-stalking run. It was a solid effort on debut and he'll be winning shortly. In the market late Take What You Need ran on steadily settling better than midfield on the fence to just take third. He's a winner waiting to happen at this level. Vigor Champ ran on steadily to just miss a placing after saving ground behind midfield. The nine-pound rise in the weights for a last-start win was too much to overcome. Aca Power made good ground late to pick up a minor cheque after biding his time third last from a middle draw. It was his best run to date at his third start in this grade. Demons Rock ran on without threatening from towards the rear. Prefer him in Class Five. Well-backed Champion Pride wasn't beaten far in the end after getting badly held up for most the straight following a patient ride at the rear of the field from gate 12. He'll be a force to be reckoned with in Class Five.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (647) - MA TAU WAI HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

ACA POWER and STEEL WIN were hampered on jumping between SHOWINA (B Shinn) which began awkwardly and shifted in and DEMONS ROCK which shifted out of its own accord before being taken out further by WINNING DELAGO which in turn shifted out after initially being bumped by WON BALL.

In this incident, ACA POWER, STEEL WIN and SHOWINA were all hampered.

B Shinn explained that it was intended for SHOWINA to be ridden in a forward position as it was at its most recent start when successful.

He said however that after being hampered at the start, this resulted in SHOWINA not being able to show sufficient early speed to be able to take up a forward position as he was of the opinion that had he have ridden SHOWINA along to improve its position, SHOWINA would have been left racing outside STEEL WIN which was being aggressively ridden to the inside of SHOWINA.

He said rather than be left racing wide, he elected to obtain a trailing position behind STEEL WIN passing the 1000 Metres.

He said irrespective of the incident at the start, he was of the opinion that the pace of the race in the early stages tonight was quicker than it was at its last start when the horse was able to work its way into a forward position in the early stages.

EXUBERANT shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider shortly after the start, resulting in VIGOR CHAMP being hampered.

From a wide barrier, SHINING ON was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Approaching the 600 Metres, EXUBERANT, which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of STEEL WIN, raced tight inside SHOWINA which shifted in.

Passing the 300 Metres, WON BALL raced tight inside the heels of WINNING DELAGO which got its head on the side and lay in.

SHINING ON had difficulty obtaining clear running after the 300 Metres and passing the 200 Metres was directed to the inside of VIGOR CHAMP after being disappointed for running between that horse and SHOWINA.

Near the 150 Metres, EXUBERANT lay in and inconvenienced WINNING DELAGO.

The Stewards opened an inquiry into V Borges' riding of CHAMPION PRIDE rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight.

V Borges stated that he was instructed, from the outside barrier, to shift CHAMPION PRIDE across behind runners in the early stages and obtain a position close to the rail.

He said he was not given any further instructions on how to ride CHAMPION PRIDE.

He said after shifting across behind runners in the early stages to obtain a position at the rear of the field, CHAMPION PRIDE travelled well in the early and middle stages.

He said passing the 400 Metres he was following DEMONS ROCK and elected to obtain runs inside that horse after the 400 Metres when DEMONS ROCK shifted to the outside of SHOWINA, taking ACA POWER, which was racing to the outside of DEMONS ROCK, wider.

He said he was of the opinion that had he have shifted CHAMPION PRIDE to the outside of ACA POWER, this would have resulted in CHAMPION PRIDE being taken very wide and covering unnecessary ground.

He said he therefore elected to improve to the inside of DEMONS ROCK which he was able to do rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight.

He said passing the 300 Metres DEMONS ROCK continued to shift out and as SHINING ON was shifting out to his inside to improve inside SHOWINA, he directed CHAMPION PRIDE to the outside of SHOWINA and commenced to improve between that horse and DEMONS ROCK.

He said when he did this it was his intention to improve into tight running which he felt was available between SHOWINA and STEEL WIN.

He said as he shifted to the outside of SHOWINA, STEEL WIN shifted in, resulting in the run between that horse and SHOWINA no longer being available.

He said he therefore commenced to shift to the outside of STEEL WIN with a view to obtaining any run which may become available between that horse and DEMONS ROCK.

He said at the 200 Metres CHAMPION PRIDE was travelling very strongly and as the horse was racing well inside the heels of DEMONS ROCK, he did not believe it was available to check CHAMPION PRIDE and commence to shift to the outside as this would have resulted in CHAMPION PRIDE losing a significant amount of ground.

He said he remained racing behind STEEL WIN and passing the 200 Metres commenced to shift to the outside of DEMONS ROCK.

He said however at this stage CHAMPION PRIDE was still racing inside the heels of ACA POWER which was positioned slightly behind DEMONS ROCK and once again he felt that to shift to the outside of ACA POWER, given that CHAMPION PRIDE was continuing to travel strongly, would have resulted in him having to check CHAMPION PRIDE and lose ground.

He said he therefore elected to continue to follow DEMONS ROCK and then shift to the inside of that horse approaching the 100 Metres as STEEL WIN commenced to give ground.

He said after improving into tight running inside DEMONS ROCK, he then shifted in further as he attempted to find clear running, however, CHAMPION PRIDE was not able to secure clear running and therefore was not able to be properly tested.

Mr D E Ferraris, trainer of CHAMPION PRIDE, confirmed that he had instructed Jockey Borges to shift across from the outside barrier to obtain cover and he felt that this would result in the horse being positioned towards the rear of the field.

He said he was of the opinion that whilst CHAMPION PRIDE had been able to take up a more forward position in some of its races, he felt that from the outside barrier were CHAMPION PRIDE to be ridden to obtain a forward position, this may result in the horse having to do too much work and possibly being left racing wide and without cover.

He said he therefore formed the view that CHAMPION PRIDE's best opportunity to finish off the race were for the horse to switch off in the early stages.

He said he was satisfied with Jockey Borges' decisions in respect of CHAMPION PRIDE rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, however, would have preferred for CHAMPION PRIDE to be shifted to the outside of ACA POWER to obtain clear running passing the 200 Metres.

The Stewards adjourned the matter until a date to be fixed to allow them the opportunity to consider the evidence.

A veterinary inspection of CHAMPION PRIDE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

Before being allowed to race again, CHAMPION PRIDE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of SHOWINA immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils.

A veterinary inspection of STEEL WIN and DAY DAY RICH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

EXUBERANT and WINNING DELAGO were sent for sampling.