14/04/2013  Happy Valley  Race 9

CHARLES THE GREAT was crowded for room shortly after the start between WINDICATOR STAR which shifted out and NEW DEERFIELD which was taken in by ARRIVED AHEAD which in turn was taken in by BUNDLE OF LOVE which got its head on the side and shifted in away from NEW GLORY. From wide barriers, SIMPLE, TALLEY CLOSE and VOILE ROUGE were all taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching and passing the 200 Metres, CHARLES THE GREAT was held up for clear running. Passing the 150 Metres, FINAL ANSWER, which was giving ground, was steadied away from the heels of CHARLES THE GREAT which, when shifting to the outside of BUNDLE OF LOVE, was taken wider by that horse which shifted out under pressure. Also passing the 150 Metres, TALLEY CLOSE raced tight inside ARRIVED AHEAD which was giving ground. Throughout the race, FINAL ANSWER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, T Angland (SIMPLE) stated that approaching and rounding the Home Turn he was positioned well inside the heels of IMPERIAL ROME. He said at this time he elected to continue to follow CAPE CANAVERAL through and inside IMPERIAL ROME rather than steady his mount and come to the outside of IMPERIAL ROME. He said he believed that he would have had to give up too much ground at this time to shift to the outside of IMPERIAL ROME and he anticipated that CAPE CANAVERAL would be able to take him into the race further than it did. He said however that in the early part of the Straight CAPE CANAVERAL did not quicken as he had hoped and for this reason he was held up for clear running for some distance approaching and passing the 200 Metre where he elected to steady his mount to shift SIMPLE to the outside of IMPERIAL ROME. He added as he committed to shift to the outside of IMPERIAL ROME, a run eventuated between IMPERIAL ROME and CAPE CANAVERAL, however, at this time he was already shifting SIMPLE to the outside of IMPERIAL ROME. A veterinary inspection of NEW DEERFIELD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NEW DEERFIELD, IMPERIAL ROME and CHARLES THE GREAT were sent for sampling.