29/10/2017  Happy Valley  Race 3

HAYMAKER dwelt at the start and consequently lost ground. Before being allowed to race again, HAYMAKER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. After this, from a wide barrier, HAYMAKER was shifted across behind runners. CARRY TO WIN began very awkwardly. VICTORY DUKE began awkwardly. From the outside barrier, HURRICANE KID was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Shortly after the start, SMART SALUTE and KING’S STEED bumped, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. GREAT WISDOM got its head up in the early stages when being steadied in order to be shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. CARRY TO WIN lost its right hind plate near the 1100 Metres. Approaching the 850 Metres, KING’S STEED and CARRY TO WIN bumped. After the 650 Metres, IDYLLIC WIND was left racing wide and without cover. For some distance after the 500 Metres, TREASURE AND GOLD became unbalanced when racing tight between HURRICANE KID and HAYMAKER (Apprentice M F Poon) which shifted to the outside of RAICHU to improve. In this incident, HURRICANE KID also became unbalanced after being bumped by TREASURE AND GOLD. Apprentice Poon was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. At the entrance to the Straight, CARRY TO WIN was bumped on the hindquarters by KING’S STEED (M Chadwick) which, when attempting to improve to the outside of REGENCY HONEY, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. M Chadwick was reprimanded and warned against the practice of placing unnecessary pressure on other horses in order to obtain clear running. After RAICHU was shifted to the outside of CARRY TO WIN passing the 200 Metres to improve into available running between that horse and ROCKET LET WIN, CARRY TO WIN shifted out when commencing to give ground which resulted in RAICHU making contact with ROCKET LET WIN and then racing in restricted room between those horses until after the 150 Metres. Passing the 200 Metres, VICTORY DUKE raced tight inside REGENCY HONEY which got its head on the side and shifted in when commencing to give ground. Passing the 150 Metres, HAYMAKER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SMART SALUTE when being shifted to the outside of that horse to obtain clear running. Approaching the finishing line, SMART SALUTE hung in under pressure, resulting in its rider, Z Purton, having to stop riding momentarily and straighten his mount. A veterinary inspection of REGENCY HONEY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VICTORY DUKE and SMART SALUTE were sent for sampling.