27/09/2017  Happy Valley  Race 5

OCEAN ROAR lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began only fairly. RIVERSIDE BIRD was slow to begin. FLYING FORCE began only fairly. VERY RICH MAN was left racing wide and without cover from the 700 Metres. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, LUCKY LUCKY (J Moreira) commenced to lay out which enabled OCEAN ROAR to improve between the leader LUNAR ZEPHYR and LUCKY LUCKY. J Moreira explained that due to its inexperience, LUCKY LUCKY found it difficult to negotiate the first turn after being hard ridden to take up a forward position. He said after OCEAN ROAR improved to be racing between LUNAR ZEPHYR and LUCKY LUCKY, his mount continued to lay out, subsequently made the Home Turn awkwardly and then raced a little greenly when placed under pressure in the Straight. NOBLE DE BOY (N Rawiller) shifted out on the Home Turn and bumped DR RACE which became unbalanced. N Rawiller was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. After the 200 Metres, when directed out to avoid causing interference to JUNZI, LUCKY LUCKY shifted out and hampered VERY RICH MAN. When questioned, C Schofield (DR PROACTIVE) stated that he followed BEAUTY CONNECTION into the Straight and after balancing his mount he initially chose to continue following BEAUTY CONNECTION as, being one of the favourites for the event, he expected that horse to quicken and be in the finish. He said he was also aware that VERY RICH MAN, which was racing to the outside of BEAUTY CONNECTION, had been racing wide and without cover and as he expected that horse would weaken in the Straight, he felt that to follow BEAUTY CONNECTION was the better option. He said however that when BEAUTY CONNECTION did not accelerate as he expected, after the 300 Metres he endeavoured to shift off the back of that horse to improve into narrow running between BEAUTY CONNECTION and VERY RICH MAN. He said however that DR PROACTIVE got its head on the side and was reluctant to shift out from behind BEAUTY CONNECTION until near the 200 Metres at which stage the run, which existed between BEAUTY CONNECTION and VERY RICH MAN, had closed due to VERY RICH MAN shifting in. He said he then elected to direct DR PROACTIVE to improve to the outside of VERY RICH MAN, however, a short distance later VERY RICH MAN shifted out suddenly which caused him to steady his mount and then attempt to improve to the inside of VERY RICH MAN. He explained over the concluding stages, due also to LUCKY LUCKY shifting out, he was not able to find clear running on DR PROACTIVE until just prior to the winning post. When questioned regarding the performance of BEAUTY CONNECTION, Z Purton stated that the horse took up a prominent position as anticipated to the outside of OCEAN ROAR and trailing the early leaders LUNAR ZEPHYR and LUCKY LUCKY. He said BEAUTY CONNECTION initially travelled comfortably in this position, however, when LUCKY LUCKY, which was racing directly in advance of BEAUTY CONNECTION, shifted out on the first turn, his mount was taken out by OCEAN ROAR which shifted out to improve into a position vacated by LUCKY LUCKY at which stage BEAUTY CONNECTION dropped the bit and did not travel comfortably. He added, despite being hard ridden rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight, BEAUTY CONNECTION did not close off as anticipated and was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY CONNECTION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of OCEAN ROAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY LUCKY, JUNZI and NOBLE DE BOY were sent for sampling.