21/03/2018  Happy Valley  Race 2

As the start was effected, LIGHTNING MISSILE lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. SUPER EURO STAR began awkwardly. ALL MY GAIN was crowded for room on jumping between BEAUT BEAUT and BEST RUNNER which shifted in. Then from wide barriers, ALL MY GAIN, BEST RUNNER and SHOWING CHARACTER were all shifted across behind runners. Passing the 1000 Metres, BEST RUNNER got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of BEAUT BEAUT which for the majority of the race travelled wide and without cover. Passing the 150 Metres, LIGHTNING MISSILE was shifted to the inside of LUCKY LUCKY and HAPPY BAO BEI in an attempt to obtain clear running. Then when attempting to improve between NICE FANDANGO and HAPPY BAO BEI, LIGHTNING MISSILE was checked away from the heels of NICE FANDANGO when disappointed for running between that horse which shifted out marginally and HAPPY BAO BEI. Because of this, LIGHTNING MISSILE was not able to be ridden out to the end of the race. Over the final 100 Metres, SUPER EURO STAR was unable to be properly tested when awkwardly placed outside the heels of LUCKY LUCKY which shifted out marginally. When questioned, K Teetan stated that he was asked to ride BEAUT BEAUT from barrier 8 in about a midfield position, similar to where the horse was positioned when it was successful. He said it was felt that were BEAUT BEAUT to be ridden in a more forward position as it had been in some of its races, the horse would not be able to finish off the race as there were a number of horses which had shown good speed in their races drawn more favourably than BEAUT BEAUT and it was felt that BEAUT BEAUT would have to race unnecessarily wide on the speed if it were to be ridden in a forward position. He said BEAUT BEAUT began very well and he felt that he would have had to retrain the horse too heavily to obtain cover shortly after the start and therefore he elected to ride his mount along to clear APPLAUSE and LUCKY BLESSINGS in the early stages. He said however that due to the makeup of the race, he was not able to obtain cover when racing in about a midfield position. A veterinary inspection of APPLAUSE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. GOKO, HAPPY BAO BEI and NICE FANDANGO were sent for sampling.