08/09/2010  Happy Valley  Race 6

MATSUKAZE began awkwardly and was slow to begin. Rounding the Home Turn, UPGRADING was checked when unable to obtain a clear run between BEST MILITARY and MATSUKAZE. After this, UPGRADING had difficulty obtaining clear running until passing the 200 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn and again shortly after entering the Straight, FUN RIDER and YOUNG HERO bumped, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. BEST MILITARY was unable to obtain clear running until near the 100 Metres. Throughout the race, PRIME TARGET travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, J Lloyd (YOUNG HERO) stated that it was anticipated that SILVER SUN and REGENCY WINNER, which had drawn to his outside, would show sufficient pace to go forward in the race and therefore it was intended to ride the horse behind the leaders if possible. He said he rode YOUNG HERO positively out of the barriers to take up a forward position, however, horses drawn to his inside showed more speed than he had anticipated and as he felt that he would have had to make too much use of YOUNG HERO to clear those runners, he elected to steady the horse and shift across behind runners. He said this resulted in YOUNG HERO racing further back in the field than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of UPGRADING after the race did not show any significant findings. FUN RIDER and FLUKE were sent for sampling.