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Racing and Sports have scanned the stewards’ reports to find the key information punters need to know from Australian racing on Saturday September 10.

Rosehill:

Love's A Fantasy (Race 1): raced wide and without cover throughout the event. Trainer Mr J Sylvester advised that the gelding, which was beaten 24 lengths, would now drop back to country grade. Acting on this assurance, no further action was taken.

Erika (Race 2): blundered on jumping and lost ground (2L). Pulled hard throughout and was steadied away from the heels of Salthouse on a number of occasions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be lame in the near-foreleg. Trainer Mr J Bateman advised that Erika will be spelled. On this assurance no action was taken.

Bring Luck (Race 2): slow to begin (3L).

Sir Bacchus (Race 3): slow to begin and then shortly after the start was crowded by Moral Victory, which shifted out after being bumped by Caped Crusader.

Ocean Grand (Race 4): shortly after the start was steadied to avoid the heels of Twisted Miller. Laid in in the middle stages and near the 600m made contact with the running rail. Rider T Berry could offer no excuse for the performance, other than the gelding may not have backed up from its most recent run on a heavy track. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Trainer Mr C Bashford stated that he was not disappointed with the performance of Ocean Grand, which was obliged to carry 61 kilograms. He added in his view the gelding may now be looking for races over a longer distance and the plan would be to step it up in distance at its next race start.

Tiger By The Tail (Race 4): after being held up in the early part of the straight, was steadied when disappointed for clear running to the outside of Ocean Grand near the 150m. Tiger By The Tale was then unable to be fully tested over the concluding stages of the event.

Fuel (Race 4): raced wide without cover for the major part of the race.

Junoob (Race 5): slow to begin. Rider H Bowman stated with the constant strong tempo throughout the event he was obliged to make some use of his mount to hold his position in the early and middle stages. He added he endeavoured to make ground from the 800m, however as he commenced to improve Junoob was forced wide when Allergic shifted out. From this point he was obliged to race wide without cover and in the circumstances his mount only finished the race off fairly. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

Thronum (Race 6): was contacted heavily by Astern, which shifted out on jumping and consequently became unbalanced and was taken out. For the majority of the race travelled wide without cover.

Mediterranean (Race 6): overraced in the early and middle stages. Held up for clear running until approaching the 200m.

Omei Sword (Race 6): began awkwardly. Held up for some distance approaching the 250m.

Old North (Race 7): slow to begin. Rider B Avdulla stated stated that, although the tempo was genuine in the early and middle stages, his mount was still inclined to race keenly in the run and he attributed this to the main reason for the horse failing to finish the race off. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

Counterattack (Race 7): badly held up rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight and after being disappointed for a run between Mackintosh and Tycoon Tara, which shifted out near the 150m, Counterattack was then obliged to steady and shift out around the heels of Mackintosh to obtain clear running.

Dixie Blossoms (Race 8): bumped with Pearls at the start. Making the first turn had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Fine Mist, which shifted in. Overraced in the middle stages. Rider T Clark stated after following Savoureux, a runner which he felt was a good chance in the event, he was then held up on the heels of that runner when it did not improve as he had anticipated. He added he was then obliged to come to the outside of Savoureux in an endeavour to find clear running and was badly held up on the heels of Cana and then Alucinari until approaching the 100m. T Clark further stated he then shifted back to the inside of Cana to obtain clear running, but again was hampered over the concluding stages when Cana shifted back in, crowding his running and as a consequence Dixie Blossoms went to the line without being tested.

Savoureux (Race 8): rider H Bowman stated, with the perceived lack of early tempo, he positioned his mount a little more forward than it would normally have settled and when the tempo quickened on straightening he was left flat-footed. He added he then raced in restricted room for some distance in the early part of the straight between Cana and Heavens Above (T Angland) and when Heavens Above shifted out near the 200m he was then obliged to steady his mount. He further added that over the concluding stages he could not fully test his mount when awkwardly placed close to the heels of Pearls. T Angland was advised to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground.

Fabrizio (Race 9): near the 200m rider App. K Jennings had his whip knocked from his grasp by T Berry, rider of Lucky Fish, as T Berry struck his mount.

Flemington:

Black Tomahawk (Race 1): rider Craig Williams was questioned regarding his tactics adopted in the home straight on the final occasion. He explained he was given specific instructions to ensure that his mount is given its best chance to win by putting it under pressure inside the final 200m, as it failed to finish its race off at its last start at Moonee Valley on August 20th after being put under pressure at a much earlier stage of the race. He added that once he did put his mount under pressure inside the 200m his mount was unable to overhaul the eventual winner, Lucques. He added that after having that horse covered at the 200m his mount failed to strongly stay the trip.

Awake In Grinzing (Race 3): connections advised would be ridden back; settled worse than mid-field. Held up for clear running from the 350m until near the 200m. When questioned regarding his tactics, rider Ben Melham explained that when the gelding won at its first start at Sandown on July 27th it came from back in the field and then at its next start on August 27th at Caulfield was disappointing after taking up a forward position, hence the tactics that were notified today to try and settle the gelding in the early stages. He added that his main priority in the early stages was to carry out those instructions and was endeavouring to maintain a position behind Captain Duffy in the early stages, however he was unable to hold that position after passing the 1200m and elected to go to the fence rather than risking his mount over-racing by getting into a duel with Throssell which was endeavouring to take the same position. He confirmed that he had difficulty in gaining clear running and that his mount was only tested over the final 200m of the race when eventually gaining clear running and at that time also wanting to hang in to the point where he had to stop riding over the concluding stages to avoid the heels of Revolving Door.

Jackson (Race 3): raced three wide without cover from the 800m.

Seaburge (Race 3): held up for clear running from the 500m until the 200m.

Defcon (Race 5): rider Dwayne Dunn was of the opinion his mount would be better ridden with cover and may not be suited on the straight course. A post race veterinary examination revealed the colt to be lame in the near foreleg and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again. A swab sample was also taken for analysis.

Dreams Aplenty (Race 5): rider Bobby El-Issa reported the gelding was disappointing and failed to respond to his riding in the straight and added it may not be suited to the straight course. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the near foreleg and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.

Xtravagant (Race 6): Performed poorly and was eased down from the 250m. Rider Damien Oliver stated his mount didn’t feel right in its action during the race and may be better suited around a turn, however said the horse pulled up well and its action and felt fine on return to scale. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Co-trainer Mr Autridge explained the horse had difficulty racing in the anti-clockwise direction previously and he could only attribute the disappointing performance to the conditions of straight course racing and would end to carry out further veterinary tests on the horse and notify Stewards of the results in due course.

We've Got This (Race 6): stood flat footed and was slow to begin and a warning will be placed on the gelding’s record.

Kinglike (Race 6): rider Chris Parnham said his mount raced too fresh and failed to respond to his riding in the straight. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Tarzino (Race 7): slow to begin. Rider Craig Newitt reported his mount over-raced and although he raced on the fence he had no cover which he believes was detrimental to his chances today.

Badawiya (Race 8): got its head up when over-racing in the middle stages. Rider Craig Newitt stated in his opinion the mare didn’t appreciate the 59kg carried today.

Egypt (Race 8): held up for clear running from the 400m until approaching the 200m.

Hans Holbein (Race 9): connections advised would be ridden more positive; led. Eased down in the straight. Rider Katelyn Mallyon could offer no explanation for the performance. An irregular heart rhythm was detected on post race veterinary examination. The horse shall not start in any race until the Stewards have received a satisfactory veterinary report. The report must include the results of an ECG performed at rest and cardiac auscultation performed within 30 minutes of completing a satisfactory gallop of at least 1000m.

Pilote D'Essai (Race 9): over-raced through the middle stages. Rider Dwayne Dunn reported his mount raced too keenly with the addition of winkers.

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