Optional Claiming

Chart notes

BLAMELESS GHOST patiently watched the contesting duo outside down the backstretch, cruised up three wide outside to apply pressure inside the half mile marker, bid for the lead outside entering the stretch and wore down the game frontrunner at the sixteenth pole. MIRAMICHI had a slim lead on the rail down the back straight, continued to lead while hounded outside by two runners throughout the turn, was headed outside by the winner at the top of the stretch, stubbornly dug in until the sixteenth pole and grudgingly gave way late. FRIENDS FOR LIFE travelled on the outside in mid-division down the backside, watched the front trio outside around the turn, swung out to the five path straightening for home and fought on down the lane to win the show battle right at the wire. SHAMELESS AFFAIR settled in midfield on the inside down the backstretch, tracked boldly in the second flight through the turn, shifted outside for clear run to loom in the four path turning for home, veered in at the top of the lane losing some momentum briefly, could not reel in the front two down the stretch and was out finished late battling for the show award. CLARAYOUTHEBEST was unhurried to trail in the beginning, made little progression around the turn and showed some run to pass weary foes in mid-stretch. FLIP FLOPPIN FAST stalked three deep on the outside down the backside, sat alone in the third flight making little headway around the bend and failed to reach contention driving the finish line. BRITISH CROWN contest the pace outside in the early stages, was scrubbed on for more between rivals but could not maintain position in the two path at the five sixteenths pole, had little left to offer and yielded in upper stretch. SPIRIT BEAR stalked near the rear with rivals on either side, was taken hold of when taking some awkward steps on the fence inside the nine sixteenths marker, lost action for a while and never factored afterwards.