07/11/2018  Happy Valley  Race 2

SPRING WIN shifted in abruptly on jumping, resulting in SMART SALUTE being crowded for room. THOU SHALL SING shifted out shortly after the start and bumped JUMBO BUS. From the outside barrier, JOLLY BOUNTIFUL was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After being left racing wide making the turn after the 1000 Metres, CARE FREE PRINCE was steadied to obtain cover. After being ridden positively for some distance in the early stages to obtain a forward position, VERY RICH MAN was left racing wide and without cover and for some distance after the 900 Metres was consequently steadied to obtain a trailing position behind GOOD COMPANION. After initially obtaining cover behind that horse, VERY RICH MAN was again left racing wide and without cover after the 600 Metres. Approaching the 600 Metres, JUMBO BUS raced in restricted room between PAKISTAN BABY and DOLLAR REWARD. In this incident, JUMBO BUS bumped the hindquarters of PAKISTAN BABY which became unbalanced. Passing the 300 Metres and again near the 200 Metres, PAKISTAN BABY was awkwardly placed inside the heels of PRAWN YEAH YEAH which shifted in. Near the 250 Metres, JUMBO BUS was momentarily eased away from the heels of JOLLY BOUNTIFUL which shifted out to obtain clear running. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of DOLLAR REWARD, G van Niekerk stated that he was asked to have the horse positioned in midfield if possible. He said DOLLAR REWARD began awkwardly and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of GOOD COMPANION shortly after the start. He said this resulted in DOLLAR REWARD being further back in the field than had been hoped. He said he rode his mount along in the early stages in an attempt to obtain a midfield position and then had to continue to ride it along to prevent CARE FREE PRINCE from crossing DOLLAR REWARD near the 1000 Metres. He said although DOLLAR REWARD was able to obtain a midfield position, he had to make more use of the horse than had been hoped to do so. He said after being shifted to the outside of VERY RICH MAN passing the 400 Metres, DOLLAR REWARD did not quicken as he expected and then finished off the race only fairly. He added, in his opinion, the horse’s disappointing performance could be attributed to the fact that it was ridden along in the early stages, unlike at its most recent start when it finished off strongly after being ridden more conservatively in the early stages. A veterinary inspection of DOLLAR REWARD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of VERY RICH MAN and GOOD COMPANION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DOLLAR REWARD, PAKISTAN BABY and JOLLY BOUNTIFUL were sent for sampling.