18/10/2018  Happy Valley  Race 7

TANGMERE and BRAVE LEGEND were slow to begin. TAKING AIM lost its right hind plate approaching the winning post on the first occasion. When endeavouring to improve between LET’S TAKE IT EASY (U Rispoli) and PLAY WISE (A Sanna) approaching the 50 Metres, BRAVE LEGEND was checked, shifted out and made contact with the hindquarters of PLAY WISE due to both horses shifting slight ground. U Rispoli and A Sanna were both advised to ensure that they make every endeavour to keep their mounts on a straight course. After the race, W M Lai reported that RAZOR QUEST was making an abnormal respiratory noise. A veterinary inspection of RAZOR QUEST immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. Also after the race, A Sanna reported that PLAY WISE was making an abnormal respiratory noise. A veterinary inspection of PLAY WISE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. When questioned regarding his riding of TAKING AIM, G van Niekerk stated that he was instructed to ride the horse positively in the early stages and if possible to take the outright lead and ensure the race was run at a genuine tempo. He said he was required to ride TAKING AIM along for some distance in the early stages to cross VIGOR FAME which was also being ridden positively in the early stages and was not able to assume the outright lead until near the 1200 Metres. He said whilst he was aware that the pace to that stage of the race had been solid, it was not until entering the Back Straight that he realized that he had established a margin over VIGOR FAME. He said when he realized this, he endeavoured to steady the pace, however, TAKING AIM continued to travel strongly in the lead and it was not until after the 600 Metres that he could have the horse relax. He added TAKING AIM was quickly challenged by VIGOR FAME and TOP LAURELS rounding the Home Turn at which stage TAKING AIM came under heavy pressure and was then one-paced in the run to the finishing line. Trainer J Moore advised he had anticipated that RED WARRIOR may also be ridden to obtain a forward position and expressed to Jockey van Niekerk that he should make that horse work if it were to challenge for the lead, but with the option to take a sit if that was considered a better course of action. He did say that, in his view, Jockey van Niekerk had misjudged the pace he was setting, particularly from the 1200 Metres and that he was somewhat disappointed with his riding. After taking into account of the prevailing circumstances, the Stewards severely reprimanded G van Niekerk for what they deemed to be a lack of judgement on his behalf, particularly having run unnecessarily fast sectionals between the 1200 Metres and the 800 Metres after having already made significant use of his mount in the early stages to assume the lead. G van Niekerk was advised that in future he would be expected to ride with a greater degree of judgement so as to allow his mounts the opportunity to close off the race. When questioned, C Murray stated that from a favourable barrier it was decided to ride SUPER FORM positively in the early stages and race in a relatively prominent position. He said however that with the strong pace throughout the early and middle stages SUPER FORM was never travelling on the bridle and came under pressure as far out as the 700 Metres. C Murray attributed SUPER FORM’s disappointing performance to being ridden nearer to the lead with the unexpectedly strong pace. A veterinary inspection of SUPER FORM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING SATCHMO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. RED WARRIOR and TOP LAURELS were sent for sampling.