19/02/2014  Happy Valley  Race 4

EXCEL ONESELF was withdrawn on 18.2.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter TELECOM TOP STAR (A Suborics). Before being allowed to race again, EXCEL ONESELF will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KEY WITNESS was badly crowded for room at the start between COPY STAR and FIRE STARTER which shifted out after beginning awkwardly. In this incident, KEY WITNESS made heavy contact with COPY STAR, causing that horse to become unbalanced, shift out and bump NEW PET which became unbalanced when crowded for room inside CARRY THE ZEAL which also became unbalanced after being contacted by NEW PET. From wide barriers, TRAVEL MASTER and TELECOM TOP STAR were taken across behind runners in the early stages. Making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, COPY STAR got its head up and shifted out towards the heels of OUR MARCUS. Also making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, TELECOM TOP STAR was taken wider by KEY WITNESS which got its head on the side and shifted out. Near the 600 Metres, COPY STAR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of VICTORY GENERAL. A short distance later, COPY STAR got its head on the side, shifted out and in doing so was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NEW PET. CARRY THE ZEAL, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of COPY STAR in consequence and shifted out, resulting in TELECOM TOP STAR being inconvenienced. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, FRIENDS OF YAN OI was held up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of VICTORY GENERAL. Near the 300 Metres, TRAVEL MASTER lost its right front plate. Passing the 200 Metres, TRAVEL MASTER was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of NEW PET. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FIRE STARTER, D Whyte stated that he had been asked to ride FIRE STARTER in a forward position if possible. He said FIRE STARTER became unbalanced after making contact with KEY WITNESS at the start and then took some time to muster speed. He said he rode his mount along in the early stages in accordance with his instructions with a view to crossing OUR MARCUS to his inside, however, FIRE STARTER did not show sufficient speed to be able to shift in in front of that horse. He said therefore near the 1100 Metres he steadied FIRE STARTER with a view to obtaining cover behind OUR MARCUS which at this time shifted out slightly. He said as he was steadying FIRE STARTER, NEW PET, which had originally drawn outside of FIRE STARTER, was able to shift across behind his mount and improve its position to be racing inside FIRE STARTER and outside COPY STAR and accordingly he was not able to obtain cover behind OUR MARCUS and consequently was left racing in a three wide position without cover. He added FIRE STARTER travelled well in the early and middle stages and near the 500 Metres he rode his mount forward to prevent being taken wider by OUR MARCUS which appeared to him was going to shift out. He said FIRE STARTER improved nicely into the race rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, however, near the 250 Metres got its head on the side, lay out and became unbalanced in its action. He said after this, despite being ridden out, FIRE STARTER gave ground. He said he was disappointed with the manner in which FIRE STARTER gave ground although the horse appeared to be sound in its action after the race. A veterinary inspection of FIRE STARTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CARRY THE ZEAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FIRE STARTER, KEY WITNESS and VICTORY GENERAL were sent for sampling.