06/11/2013  Happy Valley  Race 4

After being bumped by HOME WITH GLORY at the start, HEART WOOD then shifted in, resulting in YUE LU TREASURE becoming unbalanced and shifting in, causing crowding to YOUNG TALENT and GOLDEN ADDICTION which was taken in onto the hindquarters of HO WONGCHOY which became unbalanced. From the outside barrier, OWNERS’ GLORY was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 1300 Metres, YOUNG TALENT raced tight inside MASTER GUNNER which was taken in by GOLDEN ADDICTION which got its head on the side and shifted in momentarily before being shifted out by its rider to relieve the tightening. Passing the 1300 Metres, RISING POWER got its head on the side and shifted out across the heels of KINGSTON ELITE. RISING POWER then commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when being checked away from the heels of KINGSTON ELITE. Passing the 1100 Metres, MASTER GUNNER was steadied away from the heels of GOLDEN ADDICTION which shifted in. Near the 1000 Metres, HOME WITH GLORY momentarily raced tight inside HEART WOOD which shifted in marginally. At the entrance to the Straight, HO WONGCHOY, which was commencing to give ground, shifted out and bumped GOLDEN ADDICTION which became unbalanced. A short distance later, HO WONGCHOY was checked when crowded for room between GOLDEN ADDICTION (J Moreira) which got its head on the side and shifted in as a consequence of the contact and YOUNG TALENT (Z Purton) which was shifted to the outside of the heels of KINGSTON ELITE to obtain clear running. As the Stewards formed the opinion that the incident was commenced by HO WONGCHOY shifting out and making contact with GOLDEN ADDICTION after which there was a shift from both GOLDEN ADDICTION and YOUNG TALENT, no further action was taken other than to advise J Moreira and Z Purton to exercise more care in similar circumstances. MASTER GUNNER, which was following, was hampered in consequence and shifted in away from the heels of HO WONGCHOY. In this incident, both YOUNG TALENT and GOLDEN ADDICTION became unbalanced. Passing the 300 Metres, RISING POWER was shifted to the inside of HOME WITH GLORY after being disappointed for running between that horse and REAL GENERAL. Passing the 200 Metres, NAVEL ORANGE was shifted out away from the heels of HOME WITH GLORY. In the Straight, OWNERS’ GLORY hung in and proved difficult to ride. When questioned, J Moreira (GOLDEN ADDICTION) stated that he rode his mount out with the whip in the Straight until approaching the 50 Metres. He said at this time he was aware that YOUNG TALENT was to his inside and was in contention to win the race and as he believed that GOLDEN ADDICTION had given its all with the whip, he elected to cease using the whip and ride the horse out vigorously to the line hands and heels. He said he continued to push the horse right to the line and rode it out to the best of his ability. He added he was of the opinion that in the circumstances putting the whip away and riding the horse out hands and heels was in the best interests of the horse over the concluding stages. GOLDEN ADDICTION and YOUNG TALENT were sent for sampling.