21/06/2017  Happy Valley  Race 1

PERFECT SMART began awkwardly and lost ground and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of HAPPY GAINS which shifted out after beginning only fairly. ALL TIMES LUCKY was crowded for room on jumping between GLORY HORSIE which shifted out marginally and HURRICANE KID which shifted in and then shifted in further after being bumped by RED SUN which was taken in by NOBLE BUDDIES. From a wide barrier, MANHATTAN STRIKER was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. GLORY HORSIE lost its right hind plate near the 950 Metres. Making the first turn after the 650 Metres, KIM GLORY got its head on the side, shifted out and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPARKLING TALENT. Passing the 600 Metres, NOBLE BUDDIES was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HIGHLAND DRAGON which shifted to the outside of RUGBY DIAMOND. NOBLE BUDDIES made the Home Turn awkwardly and shifted out. At the entrance to the Straight, HAPPY GAINS was shifted out across the heels of HURRICANE KID to obtain clear running. Passing the 300 Metres, HURRICANE KID lay in and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPARKLING TALENT. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident occurred in the Home Straight which cast sufficient doubt as to whether HIGHLAND DRAGON (J Moreira) should be declared the winner of the race. Prior to weighing-in, Z Purton, the rider of RUGBY DIAMOND, 3rd placegetter, lodged a formal protest/objection against HIGHLAND DRAGON being declared the winner alleging interference over about the last 150 Metres. After taking evidence from all the parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that in the early part of the Straight HIGHLAND DRAGON got its head on the side and commenced to hang in under pressure and near the 175 Metres shifted in and crowded RUGBY DIAMOND before being directed back out away from RUGBY DIAMOND. During this incident, J Moreira dropped his whip. The Stewards further found that HIGHLAND DRAGON continued to hang in and at about the 110 Metres shifted in and bumped RUGBY DIAMOND. HIGHLAND DRAGON then continued to hang in, resulting in RUGBY DIAMOND being badly crowded for room and becoming unbalanced after being bumped on a number of occasions by HIGHLAND DRAGON until near the 30 Metres. Then close to the finishing line, RUGBY DIAMOND and HIGHLAND DRAGON raced tight as a result of HIGHLAND DRAGON continuing to lay in. Having regard to the manner in which both horses finished off the race and in particular the margin which separated the two horses at the end of the race, the Stewards were satisfied that had the interference not occurred, RUGBY DIAMOND would have finished in front of HIGHLAND DRAGON. Accordingly, the protest/objection lodged by Jockey Purton was sustained and the placings amended to read No. 4, SPARKLING TALENT, 1st; No. 1, RUGBY DIAMOND, 2nd; No. 7, HIGHLAND DRAGON, 3rd; and No. 12, NOBLE BUDDIES, 4th. Subsequently J Moreira was reprimanded and advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that HIGHLAND DRAGON was proving difficult to ride, nonetheless in similar circumstances he must make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that GLORY HORSIE had sustained wounds to the right hind fetlock. HAPPY GAINS, SPARKLING TALENT and RUGBY DIAMOND were sent for sampling.