Lethal Weapon held up towards rear, smooth headway on outer early straight, led 1 1/2f out, soon strongly pressed, driven out and ran on well, swerved right near finish, comfortably

Western Winner held up towards rear, headway into 8th 2 1/2f out, 2nd and challenged from over 1f out, kept on well

Knowing Wink held up towards rear, progress early straight, 9th 2 1/2f out, 4th and headway over 1f out, 3rd and kept on inside final furlong

Grove View Star held up, 9th and headway 1 1/2f out, ran on inside final furlong

Dirtybirdie chased leaders, 6th early straight, kept on same pace from 2f out

Quitit towards rear, headway early straight, 4th and challenged under 2f out, soon no extra

Tiffany Diamond prominent, moderate 2nd and ridden entering straight, closed over 2f out, no impression, kept on same pace

Fascinating Paddy in rear of mid-division, kept on one pace straight

Stop The Power held up, kept on straight

Imperial Belle led, clear from halfway, reduced advantage 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, weakened

Captains Girl chased leaders, 7th halfway, no extra early straight

Chimay towards rear, kept on same pace straight

Blondie´s Esteem chased leaders, moderate 5th halfway, weakened straight

Samsha Cailin never a factor

Mosman Park never a factor

Cheval De La Reine prominent, 2nd halfway, 3rd straight, no extra from over 2f out

Last Emperor held up, progress into 7th early straight, soon weakened

Courting Shinney never a factor

Gimli´s Storm prominent, moderate 4th halfway, soon ridden, weakened straight

Tucum chased leaders early, weakened from halfway

It looked turning in as though the handicapper was going to have a very red face indeed as LETHAL WEAPON came through on the outside absolutely cantering with a furlong and a half to go. One saving grace is that the horse made harder work of this handicap than he should have done as it looked as though he was going to go and win by ten lengths or more. In the end he only won by a length and had to be pushed and cajoled to do so, and perhaps his swerve to the right just before the finishing line cut down his margin of victory as well. There's not too much doubt though that this horse has a few pounds to spare, but signs of temperament were in evidence as well and it might have been very interesting to see what would have occurred had he to battle.

James Burns has his string in excellent fettle and Western Winner ran very well and stepped up on her promising effort at Dundalk last time. Held up out the back, she came with a sustained run over the last quarter of a mile and stayed on well withouthaving the level of ability of the winner. It was a very decent effort and he has every chance of getting his head in front in a similar contest.

A very eyecatching run indeed came from Grove View Star. He was held up out the backand stayed on nicely under a tender ride to be nearest at the finish. He should improve a good bit for this.

Dirtybirdie has improved since stepping up in trip this season. She was prominent the whole way and kept on under pressure at more or lessthe same pace inside the final furlong. She may pick up a small handicap somewhere along the line. [JO'H]

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