19/10/2016  Happy Valley  Race 8

PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT shifted out at the start, resulting in SWEET HOME and EXPEDITE being hampered. Shortly after the start, HANG'S DECISION shifted out and bumped OUTLAWED, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. From wide barriers, GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS and BOTH LUCKY were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, EXPEDITE raced in restricted room inside GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS which got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of SWEET HOME. In the middle stages, PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT travelled keenly. Passing the 500 Metres, PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT shifted out away from the heels of HAPPY BAO BEI when continuing to travel keenly. Passing the 300 Metres, NAVAS momentarily raced tight inside HAPPY BAO BEI which shifted in. For some distance after the 200 Metres, BALAY BALAY and SWEET HOME raced tight. Approaching the 50 Metres, SWEET HOME and PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT raced tight between BALAY BALAY and HANG'S DECISION which shifted in abruptly before being corrected by its rider. Then over the concluding stages, HANG'S DECISION raced with its head on the side and lay in. When questioned, S Clipperton explained that he had been asked to ride NUMERO UNO in a forward position if the horse began well, however, if it did not begin well as it had done in some of its races in the past, he should take the horse across behind runners and obtain a position with cover. He said after being placed in the barriers, NUMERO UNO became fractious and wanted to get its head down on a number of occasions. He said as a consequence NUMERO UNO then began only fairly and, from the wide barrier, he believed that he would have had to do too much work to obtain a forward position and therefore, in accordance with his instructions, he elected to take NUMERO UNO across behind runners to a position closer to the rail making the first turn. A veterinary inspection of BOTH LUCKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of IMPERIAL FIGHTER immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. HANG'S DECISION, NAVAS and HAPPY BAO BEI were sent for sampling.