04/03/2015  Happy Valley  Race 2

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP and JOLLY SPRING bumped on jumping. ALL FRIENDS began awkwardly, shifted in at the start and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of JOYEUX. As the start was effected, DINING STAR lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently began awkwardly and then lost ground after becoming unbalanced. From the outside barrier, FRIENDS OF YAN OI was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Rounding the Home Turn, GLORY SUNSHINE and MI SAVVY bumped due to MI SAVVY shifting out. GLORY SUNSHINE then shifted out further, resulting in STAR OF WAI BO having to shift out away from the heels of that horse. CHEERS VICTORIES and FRIENDS OF YAN OI, which were following, were hampered in consequence and ALL FRIENDS, which was following FRIENDS OF YAN OI, was also shifted out away from the heels of that horse. The Stewards considered a protest/objection lodged by J Moreira, the rider of SPITFIRE, which finished second, against the winner JOYEUX (Z Purton) alleging interference to his mount near the 100 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, it was found that near the 250 Metres SPITFIRE and JOYEUX brushed due to both horses shifting minimal ground. It was further established that passing the 100 Metres JOYEUX shifted in and bumped SPITFIRE before being corrected by its rider. The Stewards found that whilst there was some contact between the horses near the 100 Metres, having in mind the manner in which both runners finished off their race over the final 100 Metres, they could not be comfortably satisfied that the contact between the horses had materially affected their respective placings at the end of the race. Accordingly, the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Throughout the race, STAR OF WAI BO travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. JOYEUX and SPITFIRE were sent for sampling.