04/01/2023  Happy Valley  Race 7

REGENCY STAR, which sustained an abrasion to its left front leg whilst being transported to Happy Valley, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said that in his opinion it was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, REGENCY STAR was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, REGENCY STAR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FABULOUS EIGHT, which bumped a rail on entering the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. MODEST GENTLEMAN shifted out at the start and bumped SERGEANT PEPPER. ONE FOR ALL shifted out on jumping and bumped FABULOUS EIGHT which became unbalanced. From the outside barriers, UNIVERSAL CROWN and JAZZ STEED were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 950 Metres, SERGEANT PEPPER, which was racing with its head on the side and laying out, shifted out and bumped FARIBAULT. After the 500 Metres, CIRCUIT SEVEN was taken wider by JUNEAU FLASH which shifted out from behind SERGEANT PEPPER. Then passing the 400 Metres, CIRCUIT SEVEN raced tight outside JUNEAU FLASH when taken wider again by that horse which shifted to the outside of ONE FOR ALL. FABULOUS EIGHT had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and when being shifted to the outside of JUNEAU FLASH was taken wider by that horse which shifted out away from the heels of ONE FOR ALL which in turn was taken out by SERGEANT PEPPER. When FABULOUS EIGHT shifted out, CIRCUIT SEVEN became unbalanced and shifted out away from that horse, resulting in JAZZ STEED being hampered. MODEST GENTLEMAN raced close to the heels of FARIBAULT after the 300 Metres. PACHISI was held up for clear running from near the 250 Metres until passing the 150 Metres. Throughout the race, ONE FOR ALL travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton stated that JUNEAU FLASH, which was fractious in the barriers, began only fairly and then lost ground when crowded for room on jumping between FARIBAULT and CIRCUIT SEVEN which shifted in. He said after this he rode his mount along to improve its position and JUNEAU FLASH then commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of SERGEANT PEPPER passing the 700 Metres. He added that JUNEAU FLASH continued to over-race after the 600 Metres and after being shifted to the outside of runners rounding the Home Turn finished the race off only fairly which he attributed to the manner in which the horse began tonight and then over-raced in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of JUNEAU FLASH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT SEVEN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JUNEAU FLASH, FARIBAULT and UNIVERSAL CROWN were sent for sampling.