08/06/2011  Happy Valley  Race 4

GRACYTOM was slow to begin and then shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of JUST CHILL which shifted out. Shortly after the start, TWIN TURBO was steadied when crowded for room between PILLOWIN and FLASHING GUY which shifted out. Approaching the 1000 Metres, MASTER KEY was steadied away from the heels of MY MEMORY which shifted in when barely clear after getting its head on the side and shifting in and away from FLASHING GUY. MEGA CHAMPION, which was following, was steadied in consequence. Approaching the 800 Metres, JUST CHILL broke down. PAR EXCELLENCE, which was following, was severely checked away from the heels of that horse and shifted out. GRACYTOM which was following, was obliged to shift out away from the heels of PAR EXCELLENCE and in doing so took MEGA CHAMPION and SNITZEL KID wider. TWIN TURBO, which was also following, was severely checked in consequence passing the 800 Metres. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, GRACYTOM proved difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed near the heels of SNITZEL KID. PILLOWIN, which was following GRACYTOM, was steadied in consequence. HIGH RETURN was held up for clear running for some distance approaching and passing the 200 Metres and near the 150 Metres brushed FLASHING GUY when obtaining a tight run between that horse and MY MEMORY. Near the 100 Metres, FLASHING GUY and HIGH RETURN bumped, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. When questioned, D Whyte stated that when he rode PILLOWIN at its most recent start, the horse was somewhat slow to muster pace in the early stages and had to be ridden along to obtain a position in the lead. He said after that race he advised the connections that, in his opinion, PILLOWIN would be better suited being able to be ridden with cover as the horse had stayed on well after having to be ridden along to lead. He added when PILLOWIN drew barrier 11 for tonight’s race, it had been decided to ride the horse quietly from the wide gate in order to obtain cover. He said when ridden in this manner, PILLOWIN closed off the race strongly. When questioned, W C Marwing (SNITZEL KID) stated that he had been instructed to obtain a position in front of midfield with cover if possible but he was not to ride the horse along in the early stages as it had been hoped that it would be able to settle better in its races. He said in the early stages he attempted to obtain a position behind MASTER KEY, however, due to the circumstances of the race was left racing wide and without cover rounding the first turn near the 1000 Metres. He added near the 800 Metres SNITZEL KID was taken wider due to horses to his inside shifting ground. He said he placed SNITZEL KID under pressure passing the 500 Metres and, in his opinion, SNITZEL KID closed off the race fairly. Trainer C Fownes stated that in SNITZEL KID’s two barrier trials since its most recent start, he had attempted to have the horse settled better than had been previously. He said for this reason he instructed W C Marwing not to ride SNITZEL KID aggressively in the early stages but rather allow the horse to travel where it was comfortable and it had been hoped this would be in front of midfield. He did say that he instructed Jockey Marwing to attempt to find cover if at all possible. He added that it was now his intention to step SNITZEL KID up in distance and therefore it was important that the horse was able to travel comfortably in the race tonight. Mr Fownes was advised the Stewards noted the manner in which SNITZEL KID was ridden tonight and it was expected that the horse would be ridden in a consistent manner in its future race starts. A veterinary inspection of SNITZEL KID after the race did not show any significant findings. SNITZEL KID, HIGH RETURN and PILLOWIN were sent for sampling.