05/01/2011  Happy Valley  Race 4

For some distance near the 900 Metres, MAKE IT proved difficult to settle. Passing the 200 Metres, SUPERIOR WARRIOR shifted out under pressure. Throughout the race, SPIRIT OF SECRETS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, B Doyle, the rider of EMPIRE CITY, stated that he had been under no specific instructions on how to ride the horse other than to have it travel where it was comfortable. He said EMPIRE CITY began awkwardly, he then shifted his mount immediately across to obtain a position on the rail at the rear of the field. He said travelling along the Back Straight EMPIRE CITY was off the bit and although there was some lengths adrift of CONFUCIUS CLASSIC, he was reluctant to ride his mount along to make up this ground as EMPIRE CITY was not travelling strongly and he wanted to ensure that it was able to finish off its race. He said shortly after making the turn out of the Back Straight he commenced to ride EMPIRE CITY along to make up ground. He said prior to entering the Straight he positioned EMPIRE CITY to obtain a run to the outside of CONFUCIUS CLASSIC. He said however that passing the 250 Metres he was obliged to steady EMPIRE CITY when disappointed for running between GLOBAL RULER and CONFUCIUS CLASSIC which shifted outwards. He said he then shifted EMPIRE CITY to the inside of CONFUCIUS CLASSIC and the horse finished off the race fairly although it got its head up and was awkward in its action. He added as he had committed EMPIRE CITY to the outside of CONFUCIUS CLASSIC rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, he was unaware of a run that had become available to the inside when he shifted his mount to the outside. B Doyle was advised that his explanation would be noted, however, in similar circumstances he must remain alert to all runs as they present themselves in a race. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HEXAGON, M Guyon said that from a wide barrier he was obliged to make considerable use of the horse in the early stages to take up a forward position as instructed. He said after obtaining the lead on the fence, HEXAGON travelled satisfactorily until rounding the Home Turn at which point the horse came under pressure and commenced to hang out. He said, in his opinion, HEXAGON’s disappointing performance was due to the amount of use he had to make of HEXAGON in the early stages to overcome the horse’s wide barrier. A veterinary inspection of SPIRIT OF SECRETS and HEXAGON after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on RACING LEGEND at the request of Trainer P O’Sullivan. The Veterinary Officer said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, RACING LEGEND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NOBLE DE BEST and RARE TREASURE were sent for sampling.