27/02/2019  Happy Valley  Race 6

MR GENUINE shifted out at the start and bumped POWERMAX. TRAVEL EMPEROR began only fairly and then shortly after the start was bumped by WINNING WAYS which was taken out by BLITZING. From wide barriers, MR GENUINE, FANTASTIC EIGHT and DARING FIT were all steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the 300 Metres, SHIMMER AND SHINE lay in and raced tight outside the hindquarters of TELECOM PUMA. After the 300 Metres, LUCKY DOLLAR, which was giving ground abruptly, was eased away from the heels of FANTASTIC EIGHT which shifted out to obtain clear running. After the 200 Metres, TELECOM PUMA was steadied away from the heels of BLITZING (K Teetan) which shifted out under pressure. K Teetan was severely reprimanded. Close to the finishing line, TRAVEL EMPEROR was checked away from the heels of SIR REDALOT. Throughout the race, LUCKY DOLLAR travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY DOLLAR immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. When questioned, C Schofield stated that approaching the 600 Metres SHIMMER AND SHINE was racing in a position behind TELECOM PUMA which was racing outside the leader BLITZING. He said whilst the pace of the race in the early stages was strong, he felt that the tempo had slackened in the middle stages and he was concerned that BLITZING, the favourite for the race, may have been getting a soft lead which would allow that horse to sprint strongly when placed under pressure. He said as SHIMMER AND SHINE is, in his opinion, looking for further at this stage of its career, he elected to shift to the outside of TELECOM PUMA and start to improve his position so that he did not have to give away too much ground to BLITZING when that horse sprinted. He said he also felt that shifting out at this time would be beneficial for SHIMMER AND SHINE as the horse is fit and would benefit from being able to gather momentum prior to straightening. He added in the early part of the Straight SHIMMER AND SHINE got its head on the side and lay in onto TELECOM PUMA and then over the concluding stages did not finish off the race as strongly as he anticipated. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SIR REDALOT had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of POWERMAX immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. BREEDERS’ STAR and BLITZING were sent for sampling.