Riding Changes:

Race 1 - SOUTHCORP WINES MAIDEN PLATE - 1500 metres:

On jumping away "Golden Eclipse" was severely hampered when tightened for room between "Defined Spirit", which initially shifted in, and "Mr. Lucio", which shifted out.

Race 2 - PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE MAIDEN PLATE - 1200 metres:

"Jeunesse Doree" jumped away awkwardly, and lost ground.

Throughout the race "Padlock" hung out.

For some distance after passing the 800 metres "Jeunesse Doree" had to be checked off the heels of "Gold Rooney", and "Old Swampy" and "Wild Velvet" were hampered in consequence.

Race 3 - CAPITAL MUTUAL INSURANCE CLASS 1 HANDICAP - 1200 metres:

"Juror" jumped away awkwardly.

Rounding the home turn and in the straight "Juror" hung out under pressure.

Race 4 - N.M.I.T. CLASS 2 HANDICAP - 1500 metres:

On jumping away "Sergio (NZ)" was inconvenienced by "Jeune's Mark", which shifted out slightly.

After passing the 500 metres "Stonekatz" was brushed by "Gold Master", which was attempting to shift out that stage.

N. Rawiller, rider of "Stonekatz", explained to the Stewards that his mount had travelled well in the early and middle stages of the race, but his mount had not responded as he would have liked shortly before receiving a bump rounding the home turn, and from that point had not responded to his riding, A veterinary examination of "Stonekatz" revealed no apparent abnormality.

S. Baster, rider of "Jeune's Mark", advised the Stewards that after riding his mount along hard prior to the home turn he had not ridden his mount in his normal manner in the straight as he felt that a run between "Starnotion" and "Stonekatz" would close, due mainly to "Starnotion" shifting in. S. Baster added that his mount was a beaten horse at that stage.

Race 5 - EAT WELL LIVE WELL YARRA GLEN CUP - 1950 metres:

Near the 600 metres "Keystone" had to be checked off the heels of "The Larkin", which was weakening.

P. Mertens, rider of "Varsilayos", stated that his mount, after travelling reasonably well in the early and middle stages of the race, was a beaten horse when put under pressure near the 800 metres. Mertens added that "Varsilayos" may not have been suited by the journey today following its last run over a longer distance at Flemington. P. Mertens also stated that "Varsilayos" appeared to pull up well. A veterinary examination of "Varsilayos" revealed no abnormality.

Race 6 - SCHWEPPES CLASS 3 HANDICAP - 1200 metres:

"Yaren Sands" knuckled on jumping away, and lost ground.

Near the 800 metres "Gamera", which was pulling, shifted in slightly, and tightened "Yaren Sands".

Near the 500 metres "Yaren Sands", which had a tendency to lay out, was tightened for room by "Gamera" (G. Mathrick), which improved its position on the inside of "Merry Tsar". Whilst the Stewards accepted that G. Mathrick was not fully responsible for the incident, they notified him that he must ensure that he leaves comfortable racing room for runners on his inside in future.

Race 7 - CARLTON DRAUGHT HANDICAP - 1200 metres:

"Hot Taste (NZ)" jumped away awkwardly.

Race 8 - R.A.C.V. CLUB CLASS 2 HANDICAP (SUPER STAYERS SERIES HEAT 7) - 2680 metres:

Near the 500 metres "Regent's Rocket" was tightened for room by "Mister Potential" (T. Atkin), which shifted in slightly when weakening.

On straightening "Triomphe de Lamour" had to be checked to avoid the heels of "Queen of Scots" (Michelle Payne) which, after laying out, shifted in after making the home turn. Miss Payne was notified that, whilst there was some circumstance, she must exercise the utmost care when shifting ground in future.

SWAB SAMPLES were taken from "Storm Edition", winner of the Eat Well Live Well Yarra Glen Cup - Race 5, and "Dalla Vista", winner of the Carlton Draught Handicap - Race 7.

Random swab samples were taken from "Tweak", the winner of the Southcorp Wines Maiden Plate - Race 1, and from "Starnotion", fifth placegetter in the N.M.I.T. Class 2 Handicap - Race 4.

Six horses were pre-race blood tested for post-race analysis.

FINES/EXPLANATIONS:

Mr. D. Brideoake, trainer of "Wild Velvet" which ran in the Programmed Maintenance Maiden Plate - Race 2 - was fined $50 for the late notification of M. Allen as the rider of the mare.

The Stewards accepted the explanation of Mr. J. Craddock, trainer of "Bide A Condeeos (NZ)", which ran in the Eat Well Live Well Yarra Glen Cup - Race 5 - for the late notification of B. Fenech as the rider of the gelding.

Mr. Tony Krushka, trainer of "Mondi" which ran in the Eat Well Live Well Yarra Glen Cup - Race 5 - explained to the Stewards that he notified M. Gatt as the rider of the gelding prior to declaration time.

The Stewards Room