07/06/2017  Happy Valley  Race 5

EASY HEDGE began awkwardly. HAPPY CONTENDER and KING’S MAN bumped at the start. From wide barriers, RICKFIELD and TRENDY WIN were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, HAPPY CONTENDER raced tight inside LITTERATEUR. Passing the 1100 Metres, MCQUEEN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KING OF MONGOLIA. Passing the 1000 Metres, EASY HEDGE got its head up when awkwardly placed behind ISTANBUL BEY. After the 1000 Metres, KING’S MAN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LITTLE ISLAND. Passing the 400 Metres, KING OF MONGOLIA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ISTANBUL BEY. Rounding the Home Turn, SHARP SAILOR, which was giving ground, was initially crowded for room between MCQUEEN and ISTANBUL BEY which shifted out away from EASY HEDGE. At the entrance to the Straight, ISTANBUL BEY was then taken out further by EASY HEDGE (C Y Ho), resulting in SHARP SAILOR being hampered when crowded for room. HAPPY CONTENDER, which was following, was severely checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that ISTANBUL BEY’s initial shift had contributed to this incident, nonetheless C Y Ho was advised that his movement outwards had placed further pressure on ISTANBUL BEY and therefore he was reprimanded and told to ensure that he exercises due care when shifting ground. Near the 250 Metres, MCQUEEN and EASY HEDGE raced tight. Approaching the 50 Metres, HAPPY CONTENDER was shifted out away from the heels of KING OF MONGOLIA. When questioned, N Callan (SHARP SAILOR) stated that he had been asked to ride the horse in a similar manner to when he was successful on SHARP SAILOR on 22 December 2016. He said on that occasion he was able to improve his position from towards the rear of the field after the 1000 Metres and SHARP SAILOR sprinted quickly and sustained its run to win. He said in tonight’s race he shifted SHARP SAILOR in across behind runners in the early stages and after the 1200 Metres noticed that LITTERATEUR had shifted out into a three wide position without cover. He said as he expected that horse would improve its position rather than remain racing wide and without cover, he elected to shift out away from the heels of KING’S MAN after the 1100 Metres to follow LITTERATEUR forward. He said whilst this was an earlier stage in the race than he had intended to improve his position, he felt that it was best for SHARP SAILOR to be able to follow LITTERATEUR forward with cover as SHARP SAILOR would then be taken into the race by LITTERATEUR as it improved towards the lead. He added SHARP SAILOR did not quicken as it did when he rode the horse to success previously and he was unable to improve with LITTERATEUR as that horse travelled forward into the lead after the 1000 Metres. He said he was obliged to ride SHARP SAILOR along for a considerable distance, however, the horse did not show the same turn of foot that it did previously and raced "flat”. When questioned, Z Purton stated that it had been intended, from a wide barrier, for LITTERATEUR to be ridden quietly in the early stages and obtain cover. He said in accordance with his instructions he came out of the barriers quietly on LITTERATEUR and immediately took hold of the horse so as to obtain cover towards the rear of the field. He said almost immediately LITTERATEUR commenced to prove very difficult to settle and he had to take a number of holds of LITTERATEUR in an endeavour to have it steady and shift across to race behind KING’S MAN which he was able to achieve near the 1600 Metres. He said he had intended for LITTERATEUR to remain racing behind KING’S MAN and he had hoped that by obtaining cover behind that horse would assist LITTERATEUR to settle better. He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion LITTERATEUR took charge of him and improved its position between KING’S MAN and HAPPY CONTENDER where there was no room. He said he was unable to prevent LITTERATEUR from improving at this time and it was only KING’S MAN shifting out to make room for LITTERATEUR that prevented what could have been a significant incident from occurring. He said after passing the winning post on the first occasion he continued to try and steady LITTERATEUR, however, the horse continued to improve its position and passing the 1300 Metres improved quickly to be racing close to the heels of LITTLE ISLAND. He said having in mind the manner in which LITTERATEUR had improved inside KING’S MAN where there was no room just prior to this, he formed the view that LITTERATEUR was going to race up onto the heels of LITTLE ISLAND and therefore passing the 1250 Metres he directed LITTERATEUR out away from behind that horse. He said this resulted in LITTERATEUR being left racing in a three wide position without cover. He added he therefore allowed the horse to improve its position in the hope that this would result in LITTERATEUR settling better. He said after crossing KING OF MONGOLIA near the 900 Metres to race outside HIGH VOLATILITY, that horse maintained its position inside LITTERATEUR, therefore he allowed the horse to continue to race outside HIGH VOLATILITY rather than continuing into the lead. He said as a consequence of LITTERATEUR refusing to settle in the early and middle stages, the horse was not able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of LITTERATEUR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY CONTENDER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ISTANBUL BEY immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm and an endoscopic examination also showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, ISTANBUL BEY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LITTERATEUR, RICKFIELD and EASY HEDGE were sent for sampling.