06/06/2018  Happy Valley  Race 1

COUR VALANT shifted out on jumping and bumped heavily with THE LEGEND, causing both horses to become unbalanced. RISING POWER and WONDERFUL TIGER began only fairly. From wide barriers, SPICY DOUBLE and ASSOCIATION FANS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, BO DUKE failed to muster speed. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, COUR VALANT and THE LEGEND bumped as a result of THE LEGEND racing tight inside SEA PEARL. Approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, COUR VALANT raced with its head on the side and lay out and consequently was unable to maintain its position inside THE LEGEND after the 1200 Metres. COUR VALANT then continued to lay out and making the turn near the 1000 Metres shifted out, resulting in RISING POWER being inconvenienced. Near the 450 Metres, BO DUKE raced tight outside ASSOCIATION FANS which improved into tight running outside COUR VALANT. Rounding the Home Turn, LE PEGASE and WONDERFUL TIGER raced tight. Passing the 300 Metres, LE PEGASE raced tight between THE LEGEND (Z Purton) and WONDERFUL TIGER which shifted in marginally. Then approaching the 250 Metres, LE PEGASE was crowded between WONDERFUL TIGER which shifted in further after being bumped on the hindquarters by LE PEGASE and THE LEGEND which attempted to improve between LE PEGASE and SEA PEARL which after initially shifting in then drifted back out. After racing tight inside LE PEGASE for some distance, THE LEGEND was steadied approaching the 200 Metres when disappointed for running between SEA PEARL and LE PEGASE. After the race, Z Purton reported that after being disappointed for running, THE LEGEND did not run on, however, the horse’s momentum at this time was stopped and it was difficult for him to ascertain how well THE LEGEND was going to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of THE LEGEND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Near the 150 Metres, N Callan (WONDERFUL TIGER) momentarily dropped his right rein. Passing the 150 Metres, SEA PEARL shifted in and bumped THE SHOW, causing both horses to become unbalanced. W M Lai (RISING POWER) was spoken to regarding having a number of looks to his outside in the very early stages of the race. He was warned against the practice of looking around in races unnecessarily. A veterinary inspection of VARA PEARL immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. THE LEGEND, ASSOCIATION FANS and WONDERFUL TIGER were sent for sampling.