Balaklava

IRISH THORN (NZ) (C. Murray) – slow to begin.

POLEMICIST (M. Heagney) – on jumping away bumped with BELFAST CHILD.

SENGOKI (C. Munro) – raced keenly in the early stages.

BELFAST CHILD (R. Milnes) – jumped away awkwardly, shifted out and bumped POLEMICIST. Laid in under pressure over the final 100m of the event.

ESTICON (B. Price) – laid in under pressure over the final 100m of the event. Rider explained that the mare was not suited to the track conditions and therefore failed to stretch out. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities. On Thursday 03 October 2024, Trainer, Mr R Balfour reported on inspection the mare jarred up in the off fore leg and had a black eye off side.

JUSTA STAR (T. Johnstone) – laid out under pressure in the straight.

CRACKEN GOOD TIME (J. Potter) – change of tactics – attempt to be more forward – settled on pace. Inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight.

MAHENO (A. Livesey) – shortly after the start shifted in to take up a position closer to the running rail. Over-raced in the early and middle stages. Lost its near hind plate during the event.

TALL LETTER (T. Pannell) – co-trainer, Ms C. Riggs, explained in relation to the betting support for the gelding that the stable had expected TALL LETTER to perform well following its last start third at the same track and over the same distance. She stated the stable had not wagered on the gelding nor encouraged any person to do so and could not offer any further explanation into the betting support.

THE BIG CHUNK (S. Payne) – rider could offer no explanation in relation to the gelding’s performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

BARBADIAN BABE (D. Tourneur) – jumped away awkwardly.

BOUNCING BEYOND (J. Holder) – near the 800m dipped. Hung in under pressure in the straight. Rider reported that he was obliged to settle further back than he had intended, and the gelding raced greenly throughout the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

DARK HELMET (NZ) (B. King) – jumped away awkwardly and was slow to begin. Rider reported that the mare travelled only fairly and did not let down when asked for an effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

NAVIGLI (A. Jordsjo) – rider reported that the mare was not suited to the track conditions.

IN CINQUE (M. Collett) – raced greenly under pressure in the straight.

SAYITONLYONCE (T. Johnstone) – held up for clear running from the 500m until inside the 400m.

MERCURY EIGHT (A. Lai) – jumped away awkwardly, shifted out and bumped RICH LADY. Hung out throughout the event.

CRACKLING ROYALE (W. Cave) – laid out under pressure in the straight.

GINGER SINNER (L. Neindorf) – inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight.

MEGASUN (T. Voorham) – slow to begin.

MIGHTY EDGY (M. Collett) – jumped away awkwardly and shifted out. Rider reported that the mare was worked up pre-race and this may have been a detriment to its performance.

REPTILIAN (D. Caboche) – late scratching at 1.00pm due to the track upgrade.

RICH LADY (K. Crowther) – on jumping away bumped with MERCURY EIGHT.

SUPERNATURE (J. Potter) – jumped away awkwardly, shifted in and shortly after rolled out.

TAKING OMAHA (J. Holder) – jumped away awkwardly. Shortly after the start was obliged to be steadied and lost its position when awkwardly placed on the heels of TOOWANDA as SUPERNATURE rolled out. Inclined to lay out under pressure in the straight. Rider reported that the colt will gain benefit from the first up run. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

TOOWANDA (D. Tourneur) – laid in under pressure in the straight.

UKI RAIN (B. King) – laid in under pressure in the straight.

HOOD RAT (NZ) (M. Henderson) – shortly after the start was tightened between TOOWANDA and UKI RAIN, which shifted in.

RICHE D'AMOUR (B. Price) – jumped away awkwardly.

NOSIE BY NATURE (M. Chadwick) – late scratching due to the track upgrade at 1.50pm.

DREAMS FULFILLED (A. Lai) – hung in under pressure in the straight.

GOT AN INSPIRATION (NZ) (R. Milnes) – near the 1100m commenced to race three wide and without cover. When questioned in relation to her tactics in this event, rider explained that she was instructed to settle in the first half of the field given how the track was playing, and she was cautious not to be caught wide without cover in the early stages therefore, she attempted to gain cover; however, from the 1100m she elected to race without cover and improve into the field as her mount was travelling well. Trainer, Mr G. Lynch, confirmed the instructions provided.

WE'VE GOTTA DEEL (S. Payne) – laid out under pressure over the final 100m of the event.

HOSTESS SUSIE (B. Price) – shortly after the start shifted in to gain cover.

PUISSY GALORE (J. Toeroek) – slow to begin, and shortly after shifted in, in an attempt to gain cover.

WARRANDYTE ROAD (M. Chadwick) – raced keenly in the middle stages.

BENZ BARON (J. Eaton) – shortly after the start shifted in to gain cover.

ROAD TO BLUE SKY (NZ) (S. Logan) – raced keenly in the middle stages.

PROJECT GUTENBERG (NZ) (B. King) – when questioned in relation to the instructions provided to her, rider explained that she was instructed to allow the gelding to lead and travel comfortably, its usual racing pattern. She stated that PROJECT GUTENBERG (NZ) had travelled well in the event without doing much work, was comfortable in its action and she was satisfied with the performance. Trainer, Mr G Lynch, confirmed the instructions provided.

LILLA BJELLE (Z. Lloyd) – jumped away awkwardly.

RICHED (B. King) – jumped away awkwardly and shifted in. Near the 900m, when hanging in, shifted in onto JIMMYS EDGE, which was taken in onto RODNEY, which lost its position when tightened onto ONE SKY ABOVE US. Hung in severely under pressure in the straight and was unable to be ridden out. Approaching the finish raced in restricted room between BROADWAY LANE and JIMMYS EDGE. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities. Trainer, Mr G. Lynch, was advised that the senior rider embargo that was placed on the gelding’s record in September 2020 was now reinforced and he must engage a senior rider until otherwise determined by the Stewards.

HUNTLEY LADY (C. Murray) – slow to begin.

LANCELOTTO (S. Fawke) – jumped away awkwardly and shifted in onto JIMMYS EDGE.

LORD MORTON (R. Milnes) – slow to begin. Near the 200m altered course to the inside of MAY’S WEST.

IN LOVE (A. Jordsjo) – laid in under pressure in the straight.

JIMMYS EDGE (S. Metcalfe) – on jumping away lost its position when tightened onto LANCELOTTO, which shifted in, and RODNEY, which was taken out. Near the 900m was taken in by RICHED onto RODNEY.

MADAM FURPHY (J. Potter) – held up for clear running from approaching the 400m until near the 300m. Difficulty obtaining clear running for a short distance approaching the 200m.

ONE SKY ABOVE US (P. Brewster) – approaching the 900m dipped. Difficulty obtaining clear running inside the 400m for a short distance, and again for a short distance near the 100m.

RODNEY (Z. Lloyd) – on jumping away was taken out by RIPPA BUZZ onto JIMMYS EDGE. Near the 900m lost its position when tightened onto ONE SKY ABOVE US by JIMMYS EDGE, which was taken in.

RIPPA BUZZ (A. Livesey) – jumped away awkwardly and shifted out onto RODNEY, which was taken out.

SNIPERS NIGHTMARE (A. Lai) – hung out under pressure in the straight.

TRYGVE (L. Neindorf) – rider explained that his instructions were to be positive on the gelding out of the barriers due to the way in which the track was advantageous to horses settling on pace. Trainer, Mr B. Jones, confirmed the instructions provided.

FIRST RANK (S. Payne) – from inside the 200m was not ridden out. Rider reported that the gelding did not feel comfortable in its action and may have jarred up, and for this reason he did not ride FIRST RANK out in his normal manner. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

FOSTER STREET (R. Milnes) – shortly after the start was tightened between FIRST RANK and GRUELLING, which both shifted ground. Held up for clear running from shortly after the entrance to the straight, and approaching the 200m shifted in, to gain clear running.

THE GREY KING (S. Fawke) – at the entrance to the straight shifted out across the heels of TRYGVE.

WILLASTON (A. Livesey) – passing the 200m was taken wider when awkwardly placed on the heels of PULAMBI which rolled out.

GRUELLING (J. Holder) – rider explained in relation to the gelding’s performance that he was obliged to settle further back due to the barrier; however, it was his intention to be more forward given the way in which the track was advantageous to horses settling on pace. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

PULAMBI (K. Crowther) – passing the 200m rolled out taking WILLASTON wider.

RUN ON (NZ) (S. Metcalfe) – trainer, Ms P. Trenwith, explained in relation to the gelding’s performance that the gelding was suited to the firm track conditions, racing with Blinkers off for the first time and the fast pace of the race. She added the gelding had returned from a its spell in good order and worked well leading into a trial at Strathalbyn on 27 September 2024, were it trialled well without Blinkers. She stated RUN ON (NZ) had continued to work well subsequent to the trial and expected a forward performance. She said the owner supported the gelding with a minor wager however she had not wagered on the gelding.

CLASSY REBEL (D. Caboche) – over-raced in the early and middle stages.

Correct weight for this event was delayed to allow A. Livesey (WILLASTON), placed fourth, and that gelding’s trainer, Mr R. Balfour, to view the vision in the straight.