BIG JESSE (D. Oliver) jumped away awkwardly and shortly afterwards was inconvenienced by FINNISS D’OR (N. Callow), which shifted out.

Near the 1000 metres JUDANZO (K. McEvoy), which was inclined to race greenly, was obliged to steady off the heels of ENVIRONS (B. Fenech), which shifted in. JUDANZO continued to race greenly in the middle stages.

Inside the 600 metres WINTHORPE (B. Prebble) and IMPULSIVE REALITY (J. Bowditch), which was inclined to lay in, made contact on several occasions resulting in WINTHORPE becoming unbalanced.

Subsequent to the race veterinary examinations of IMPULSIVE REALITY and WINTHORPE revealed no visible abnormalities

CLASSY LOOKER (W. Kerford) was slow to jump missing the start by several lengths.

Correct Weight for this event was delayed to allow Stewards to review the official footage of the start. After doing so, Correct Weight was declared.

BOY’S TALK (D. Oliver) jumped away awkwardly and then shifted out abruptly contacting GLENWEST (K. McEvoy), which was hampered.

MIGHTY RAJA (R. Wheeler) jumped away awkwardly and shortly after was inconvenienced by OUR SUCCESS (J. Bowditch), which shifted out.

Racing to the 200 metres, under pressure, OTTOBELLO (J. Potter) was inclined to lay in onto the heels of IDENTIFIABLE (P. Mertens).

J. Bowditch, the rider of OUR SUCCESS, explained the gelding had raced in its usual keen manner and he had considered it in the best interests of his mount not to restrain it more than he had, however, he stated that he was disappointed in its performance. He added that prior to the entrance to the straight, he had put OUR SUCCESS under pressure and was of the opinion that it failed to respond to his riding and felt awkward over the concluding stages. Subsequent to the event a veterinary examination of OUR SUCCESS revealed no visible abnormalities.

Stewards questioned P. Mertens, the rider of IDENTIFIABLE, regarding his riding of the gelding in the early stages. P. Mertens explained that as his mount had begun better than he had anticipated and had travelled well, he felt that it was not in the interest of his mount to restrain it.

On jumping away FLASH HENRY (W. Kerford) shifted out onto ROHATYN (NZ) (N. Callow) taking that colt out, inconveniencing BLUR (D. Oliver).

Inside the 200 metres ROHATYN (NZ) (N. Callow) rolled out under pressure and as a result BLUR (D. Oliver) was obliged to shift away.

Correct Weight for this event was delayed to allow D. Oliver, the rider of BLUR, to view the official footage in the straight. After doing so, in conjunction with Stewards, D. Oliver declined the option to lodge an objection and Correct Weight was declared.

EASY LANDING (J. Bowditch), which had commenced to sit down immediately prior to the start, jumped away awkwardly and knuckled.

Subsequent to the race a veterinary examination of CONSULAR revealed no visible abnormalities.

Subsequent to the race a veterinary examination of SYLVANER (NZ) revealed that mare to be lame in the near foreleg.

On jumping away IRISH JANTEE (W. Kerford) shifted out taking STAND BY ME (D. Nikolic) out onto BELLE BALL (NZ) (P. Mertens), which was tightened onto ABYSSINIAN (L. Currie) resulting in BELLE BALL (NZ) being obliged to lose its position.

Shortly after entering the straight AGALIA (C. Lindop) was disappointed when attempting a tight run inside ROMILADA (D. Oliver) and outside REGAL KISS (J. Holder), which shifted out. Shortly afterwards AGALIA shifted in to obtain clear running and inconvenienced ARAGONCE (T. Creek).

Stewards interviewed Mr. S. Webb, the trainer of FIRETAINE (NZ), regarding comments allegedly attributed to him, which appeared in the Sydney Daily Telegraph this morning. After being made aware of the article concerned, Mr. Webb admitted talking to the journalist, however, denied speaking to him in the detail that had been reported and stated that he had not spoken to the journalist individually and that any comments made by him were made in general conversation with a group of people. Mr. Webb denied the report was an accurate account of the conversation. He admitted that FIRETAINE (NZ) was prone to low-grade respiratory infections although the gelding had given him little cause for concern recently. He advised that FIRETAINE (NZ) received treatment with a non-swabable medication twice daily and had last been treated on Saturday afternoon. He gave Stewards an undertaking that FIRETAINE (NZ) was presented drug free to race today in accordance with the Rules of Racing. Stewards noted Mr. Webb’s undertaking and informed him that they may exercise the option to take a swab sample from the gelding subsequent to the race.

ZAMARIN (L. Currie) was inclined to over-race in the early and middle stages.

Passing the winning post on the first occasion SILVER BARON (B. Fenech) was inclined to get its head up and raced ungenerously.

Near the 2200 metres CONDIES FAIR (S. Price), whilst being restrained, got its head up and raced ungenerously.

OXFORD DOLLAR (G. Dorol) was inclined to race fiercely in the middle stages of the race.

Near the 1300 metres TOUCH THE GROOM (D. Oliver) shifted out and brushed ZAMARIN (L. Currie) on several occasions.

In the vicinity of the 800 metres SILVER BARON (B. Fenech) was obliged to steady off the heels of BREAK THE BANK (D. Carney), which had commenced to weaken. B. Fenech reported that in addition to this predicament, he had been instructed not to move forward into the race too soon.

Approaching the 600 metres OXFORD DOLLAR (G. Dorol) was obliged to steady off the heels of ASIA (P. Mertens), which rolled in.

Approaching the 300 metres MAJESTIC AVENUE (S. Arnold) was held up for a short distance when unable to obtain clear running.

In the vicinity of the 200 metres FIRETAINE (NZ) (B. Park) shifted out and contacted ASIA (P. Mertens), which was inconvenienced.

Subsequent to the race PANTANI (NZ) was inspected by the Club’s Veterinary Surgeon and found to be lame in the near foreleg.

ILZE (NZ) lost its near fore plate during the race.

DARK WINE lost its near hind plate during the race.

CLOUD DANCE (NZ) (A. Findlay), whilst being restrained, got its head up and raced ungenerously in the vicinity of the 1600 metres.

Subsequent to the race LA ZOFFANY was inspected by the Club’s Veterinary Surgeon who reported the mare to be very sore in the lower back and lame in the off foreleg. Mr. D. O’Brien, the Trainer of LA ZOFFANY, was advised that a Veterinary Certificate of Fitness to Race would be required before the mare accepted for any future event. Mr. O’Brien advised Stewards that it would be his strong recommendation to the owners that LA ZOFFANY now be retired.

Shortly after the start TULLY LAW (NZ) (W. Kerford) shifted in onto DORADOS (S. Price) taking that gelding in onto LA MISSIONAIRE (K. McEvoy) tightening that mare onto MULTI WIN (P. Mertens), which shifted in contacting the hindquarters of SLIGO CLASSIC (B. Vale). As a result MULTI WIN and SLIGO CLASSIC were hampered. W. Kerford was severely reprimanded and advised in future to give riders on his inside the room to which they are entitled.

Near the 900 metres PEPPI THE PUG (J. Bowditch) shifted out and tightened LA MISSIONAIRE (K. McEvoy) onto TULLY LAW (W. Kerford).

Approaching the 300 metres PURE SPARK (P. Gatt) shifted out and brushed PEPPI THE PUG (J. Bowditch).

J. Bowditch, the rider of PEPPI THE PUG, explained that his mount had travelled well in running and approaching the 300 metres he was confident that it would be competitive. He stated that shortly after, PEPPI THE PUG failed to respond to his riding. Subsequent to the race PEPPI THE PUG was subjected to an endoscopic examination by the Club’s Veterinary Surgeon, which revealed the gelding had suffered an internal lung haemorrhage. Mr. G. Kennewell, the trainer of PEPPI THE PUG, informed Stewards that the gelding would now be eased in its work.

Mr. M.A.T. Kavanagh, the trainer of IMPERIAL CROSS, which raced in Race 8 on Saturday, 18^th May 2002, reported that on return to his stable, the gelding bled from both nostrils. Mr. Kavanagh was advised that IMPERIAL CROSS was now suspended from racing for a period of three months in accordance with ARR 53A.

Blood Samples were taken from the following horses for the purpose of TCO₂ testing:

Race 7: THE HIND (NZ), YAMMER, OXFORD DOLLAR, PANTANI (NZ), MR. PRUDENT, SILVER BARON, MAJESTIC AVENUE, CARDINAL COLOURS, ASIA, HOMEWRECKER (NZ), FIRETAINE (NZ), ZAMARIN, RUM and ILZE (NZ).

Race 8: GLITZY GURU and LA ZOFFANY.

Race 1 DANEHILL WARRIOR (winner), Race 7 THE A TRAIN (NZ) (winner), Race 2 SANGIOVESE (winner), Race 7 HOMEWRECKER (NZ) (second), Race 3 SAVAGE ATTACK (winner), Race 7 SILVER BARON (third), Race 4 ROHATYN (NZ) (winner) Race 7 FIRETAINE (NZ) (fourth), Race 5 SYLVANER (NZ) (winner), Race 8 TYROLEAN (winner), Race 6 CALMING (winner), Race 9 MULTI WIN (winner).

RIDER CHANGES:

The Stewards Room