31/10/2010  Happy Valley  Race 8

As the start was effected, TAKEANOTHERCHANCE (Z Purton), which was leaning on the outside of its stall, hesitated and consequently lost a considerable amount of ground. Z Purton reported that when TAKEANOTHERCHANCE began awkwardly, it got its head up and made contact with the outside barrier gate. Before being allowed to race again, TAKEANOTHERCHANCE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Z Purton explained that after striking its head on the barrier gate with some force, TAKEANOTHERCHANCE was reluctant to stride out in the early stages and then travelled only fairly throughout the remainder of the event. He said at no time during the race did TAKEANOTHERCHANCE travel as it did when it was successful at its most recent start. He added, in his opinion, the incident at the start had a large bearing on the horse’s performance today. A veterinary inspection of TAKEANOTHERCHANCE after the race did not show any significant findings. Near the 750 Metres, EASTERN EMPIRE was steadied when after attempting to obtain a run to the inside of ABSOLUTE HEDGE was crowded for room inside that horse which shifted in slightly. Throughout the race, WIN PRACTITIONER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of JOLLY GOOD, Apprentice K C Leung stated that he had been instructed to take advantage of the inside barrier and have the horse in a midfield position. He said he was however advised not to make use of JOLLY GOOD to obtain this position. He said JOLLY GOOD began only fairly and he pushed the horse along in the early stages to try and take up a position in the field as instructed. He added however despite him riding JOLLY GOOD along in the early stages, the horse did not travel and consequently raced back in the field. He said along the Back Straight he was following EASTERN EMPIRE and when that horse struck some interference, JOLLY GOOD was inconvenienced in consequence. He said for this reason he shifted away from the heels of EASTERN EMPIRE in an attempt to improve into the race, however, JOLLY GOOD continued to travel only fairly and when shifted out in the Straight finished off the race one-paced. A veterinary inspection of JOLLY GOOD after the race did not show any significant findings. ANTIPASTO and ABSOLUTE HEDGE were sent for sampling.