Hard luck stories worth closer look

Last night's incident-packed fifth event could work out to be an important race for form students with any number of promising runs.

But it was the efforts of Winning Smart and Good Pal that stood out from the pack in this 1,200-metre, Class Four contest won in good style by John Moore's gutsy three-year-old Strong Win.

The Ricky Yiu-trained Winning Smart (10-1) was the unluckiest of the dozen runners as he received a serious check from Eastern Reserve leaving the back straight.

Jockey Robbie Fradd was forced to take evasive action and Winning Smart lost valuable momentum as the pace quickened out in front.

Once steadied, he kept coming bravely in the straight before fading close home to finish fourth, beaten only half a length.

Wylie Wong's rank outsider Good Pal (99-1) followed Winning Smart home in fifth and he is screaming out for a longer journey.