13/03/2013  Happy Valley  Race 7

After being loaded, REGENCY KING became fractious and as the start was effected was leaning on the outside of its stall. REGENCY KING then lost ground at the start and a short distance later was steadied away from the heels of KING OF REASON which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. Because of this, REGENCY KING raced back in the field. DISTILL shifted in at the start and bumped HOLIDAY SUN. After this, both DISTILL and HOLIDAY SUN were taken across behind runners. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, REGENCY KING was ridden along in an attempt to maintain its position inside HOT SHOT which shifted in. After this, REGENCY KING got its head up and proved difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HOT SHOT. Approaching the 1200 Metres, LITTLE DREAMS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEAUTY FLASH. Also approaching the 1200 Metres, DISTILL proved difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. For some distance approaching the 600 Metres, HOLIDAY SUN commenced to over-race and had to be checked away from the heels of ELEGANCE KLAMMER. Close to the finishing line, LITTLE DREAMS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BUSINESS AS USUAL when racing tight inside FLEET COMMAND. Because of this, LITTLE DREAMS was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. When questioned, Apprentice K C Ng stated that prior to the race Mr J Size, the trainer of HOT SHOT, felt that KING OF REASON would be ridden in a forward position and therefore he should, if possible, obtain a position behind that horse which would have HOT SHOT racing in about 2nd or 3rd position. He said shortly after the start he observed that KING OF REASON was being ridden into a forward position and he therefore attempted to shift across behind that horse which he felt would have been in accordance with his instructions. He said however that FLEET COMMAND, which had drawn an inside barrier, was ridden along to obtain a forward position and obtained the position behind KING OF REASON approaching the winning post on the first occasion. He said when it became apparent to him that he would not be able to shift in to race behind KING OF REASON due to FLEET COMMAND’s positioning, he attempted to ride his mount along, however, PERFECT CHEERS and BUSINESS AS USUAL were being ridden along from wider barriers and he was not able to improve his position at this time. He said therefore he elected, approaching the winning post on the first occasion, to shift in to a position to be racing behind FLEET COMMAND which resulted in the horse being further back in the field than had been intended. Apprentice Ng was advised that he had been too premature on this occasion in shifting his mount across to obtain a position behind KING OF REASON and, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have ridden his mount more positively in the early stages so as to allow the race to unfold. After the race, T Angland reported that the horse did not feel comfortable in its action at any stage of the race and pulled up very quickly at the conclusion of the race. A veterinary inspection of HOLIDAY SUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, HOLIDAY SUN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of REGENCY KING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PERFECT CHEERS and BUSINESS AS USUAL were sent for sampling.