21/02/2024  Happy Valley  Race 2

TELECOM FIGHTERS (D482): No report. HAPPY TOGETHER (G446): Jumped awkwardly. Sent for sampling post-race. LA CITY BLANCHE (G371): No report. DANCING CODE (G365): Near the 1500 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from LA CITY BLANCHE. When questioned, K Teetan stated that with his mount stepping back up in distance to 1650 Metres tonight, he was asked to settle DANCING CODE where comfortable and to get the horse to relax. He said with the slow pace in the early and middle stages, DANCING CODE raced a little keenly but was unable to quicken when the tempo of the race increased approaching the Home Turn. When asked if there was an opportunity to improve forward in the middle stages to offset the slow pace, K Teetan stated that as his mount was stepping back up to 1650 Metres and wearing blinkers tonight, to ensure that it ran out the distance of the event, he elected not to do so. Trainer C Fownes confirmed the instructions issued and expressed satisfaction with the tactics adopted by K Teetan. Mr Fownes added that DANCING CODE was disadvantaged by the slow early pace. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Sent for sampling post-race. NORDIC DRAGON (G467): In the early part of the Home Straight lay in and proved reluctant to shift to the outside of MR ASCENDENCY. Again over the final 150 Metres lay in and proved difficult to ride out to the finish of the event which resulted in its rider B Avdulla having to stop riding and straighten approaching the winning post. RISING FROM ASHES (G209): Leaving the 1600 Metres raced in restricted room between DANCING CODE which lay in despite the efforts of its rider and HAPPY TOGETHER which was taken out slightly when positioned to the outside of LA CITY BLANCHE. Over the concluding stages could not be ridden out when improving into a narrow run to the inside of TELECOM FIGHTERS which shifted in slightly. MR ASCENDENCY (G227): Sent for sampling post-race.