04/03/2015  Happy Valley  Race 3

SIR JOHN shifted out on jumping and hampered SOUTHCHINA COMMAND. AMERICAN FAME, YOUNG HAPPY and GLORIOUS VICTORY were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1600 Metres, LIGHTNING AND GOLD was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of AMAZING GIFT. LIGHTNING AND GOLD was held up for clear running for some distance after the 500 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn, COSMO ONE, which was giving ground abruptly, became badly unbalanced when crowded for room between LIGHTNING AND GOLD which shifted out marginally and ZACHARY which shifted in after receiving contact from GOLDEN OSMANTHUS which shifted in marginally when improving around ZACHARY. As the Stewards were of the opinion that this incident had been caused by a number of factors, particularly the manner in which COSMO ONE was giving ground at that time, no further action was taken. The performance of COSMO ONE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, COSMO ONE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, N Rawiller (SIR JOHN) stated that he had been instructed to ride the horse similar to the manner in which he rode it last start and that was to take up a leading position and if the pace was strong to allow other runners to cross SIR JOHN. He said he rode his mount along in the initial stages of the race to take up a forward position, however, after travelling only a short distance commenced to steady SIR JOHN to ascertain the manner in which the horses to his outside, particularly AMAZING GIFT, were being ridden. He said SIR JOHN showed superior speed in the early stages to runners to his outside without having to be ridden along and for this reason approaching the winning post on the first occasion he was content for SIR JOHN to remain in the lead. He said however making the turn after passing the winning post on the first occasion SIR JOHN commenced to lay out which he immediately attempted to rectify. He said when he attempted to prevent SIR JOHN from hanging out, the horse commenced to prove difficult to settle and the more he attempted to restrain it, SIR JOHN was inclined to travel keener still. He said for this reason he allowed SIR JOHN some rein in an attempt to have the horse race more tractably, however, despite this, SIR JOHN continued to over-race. He added passing the 1200 Metres COSMO ONE shifted in to race outside and behind SIR JOHN which had the effect of having SIR JOHN continue to over-race. He said he was aware that the horse was running very fast sectionals and that a break had been established over the main body of the field, however, it was not until passing the 900 Metres that he was able to get SIR JOHN to relax and come back underneath him. He said he attempted to slow the tempo appreciably at this time as he was aware that the race had been run too quickly to that point. N Rawiller was advised that whilst it was apparent that SIR JOHN was inclined to travel keenly and lay out, nonetheless given his level of experience, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have made a greater effort than he did to restrain SIR JOHN and set a more moderate tempo. When questioned, Y T Cheng (COSMO ONE) stated that, from a wide barrier, he had been asked to take up a forward position. He said he rode his mount along in accordance with his instructions and after the 1200 Metres he was able to clear AMAZING GIFT to race outside and behind the leader SIR JOHN. He said passing the 1200 Metres he was aware that the race was being run at a quick tempo and he immediately steadied COSMO ONE with a view to obtaining a trailing position behind SIR JOHN with cover. He added however that when he did this, COSMO ONE commenced to travel keenly and he was not able to shift the horse in behind SIR JOHN until near the 1000 Metres. AMAZING GIFT and LIGHTNING AND GOLD were sent for sampling.