20/11/2013  Happy Valley  Race 2

NATURAL TEAM began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of SIGHT BELIEVER. D DAY SUPER began awkwardly. FIERY FOUR BY FOUR began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of LOVELY BOY. A short distance later, FIERY FOUR BY FOUR was steadied and taken across behind runners when crowded for room between LOVELY BOY and P J HALL which shifted in marginally when being ridden along. D DAY SUPER momentarily had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight when awkwardly placed close to the heels of MIGHT AND VISION. D DAY SUPER was again unable to obtain clear running over the final 150 Metres and because of this was not able to be properly tested. P J HALL lost its left hind plate at the 250 Metres. Close to the finishing line, P J HALL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CALL ME ACHIEVER. Throughout the race, CALL ME ACHIEVER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed to obtain a forward position on BRILLIANT PROPOSAL if possible. He said it had been hoped that BRILLIANT PROPOSAL would begin well and show sufficient pace to cross SUNSHINE KID to its inside and race outside SIGHT BELIEVER which was anticipated to also take up a forward position. He said he rode BRILLIANT PROPOSAL along in the early stages, however, it soon became apparent to him that SUNSHINE KID was being vigorously ridden along and that BRILLIANT PROPOSAL would not have sufficient speed to cross that horse. He said when he also observed that LOVELY BOY being ridden along to his outside, he elected to steady BRILLIANT PROPOSAL with a view to obtaining a trailing position behind SUNSHINE KID. He added as he was doing this, FIERY RAIDER was being ridden along to improve its position to his inside and he was unable to immediately shift in behind SUNSHINE KID as BRILLIANT PROPOSAL took some time to come back and be positioned to shift in behind that horse. He said near the 800 Metres he attempted to shift in behind SUNSHINE KID, however, he then became aware that FIERY FOUR BY FOUR was improving its position into tight running between BRILLIANT PROPOSAL and FIERY RAIDER and he felt that had he continued to shift in, he would have caused interference to both FIERY FOUR BY FOUR and FIERY RAIDER. He said because of these circumstances BRILLIANT PROPOSAL raced further back than had been intended and he was not able to shift in to a two wide position following SUNSHINE KID. He added after the 700 Metres BRILLIANT PROPOSAL travelled keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MASSIVE. He said when FIERY FOUR BY FOUR improved its position making the first turn at the 600 Metres, he elected to shift in behind that horse to a position on the rail following D DAY SUPER to save ground. He said BRILLIANT PROPOSAL was able to make up good ground rounding the Home Turn and he was able to shift to the outside of D DAY SUPER immediately on straightening. He said after the 300 Metres BRILLIANT PROPOSAL became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by FIERY FOUR BY FOUR and after this closed off the race strongly. After considering D Whyte’s evidence and viewing the videos, the Stewards accepted the explanation tendered by D Whyte and took no further action. When questioned, N Callan (FIERY FOUR BY FOUR) stated that his mount raced greenly throughout the race and rounding the Home Turn got its head on the side and lay out. He said whilst it was available for him to shift to the outside of SUNSHINE KID, a horse he had been following at the entrance to the Straight, he felt that, given the manner in which FIERY FOUR BY FOUR had raced, there was a likelihood that the horse would shift out considerable ground and for this reason he elected to obtain a run to the inside of SUNSHINE KID as he felt that the horse would be more likely to close off its race if able to have a horse to its outside. He said as he committed to shift to the inside of SUNSHINE KID, that horse shifted in slightly when commencing to give ground and at the same time BRILLIANT PROPOSAL had shifted out around the heels of D DAY SUPER. He said because of this FIERY FOUR BY FOUR made heavy contact with the hindquarters of BRILLIANT PROPOSAL. He added a short distance later SUNSHINE KID commenced to give ground and he was obliged to check FIERY FOUR BY FOUR when disappointed for running between SUNSHINE KID and BRILLIANT PROPOSAL. N Callan was advised that his explanation was accepted, however, he was told to exercise more care when shifting ground so as to prevent causing interference to other runners and also his own mounts. SIGHT BELIEVER and BRILLIANT PROPOSAL were sent for sampling.