06/03/2019  Happy Valley  Race 7

WALDORF shifted out at the start and bumped COBY OPPA. Shortly after the start, ALCARI shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of HIGH FIVE, causing both horses to become unbalanced. From wide barriers, RELENTLESS ME, E MASTER and GALLANT RETURN were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 850 Metres, RELENTLESS ME became badly unbalanced when being checked away from the heels of HARRIER JET which was being steadied. This resulted in RELENTLESS ME shifting in and being awkwardly placed close to the heels of GALLANT RETURN and consequently losing ground. Making the turn near the 550 Metres, GALLANT RETURN was awkwardly placed behind ALCARI. After the 300 Metres, GALLANT RETURN was held up for clear running when awkwardly placed close to the heels of DIAMOND RHYME when being shifted out into tight running between that horse and ALCARI. Passing the 250 Metres, WALDORF was shifted to the outside of SPECIAL STARS after being disappointed for running inside that horse. WALDORF then got its head on the side and shifted out passing the 200 Metres and had to be corrected in order to improve into the heels of DREAM COME TRUE. As WALDORF was corrected to improve inside that horse, DREAM COME TRUE shifted in momentarily under pressure, resulting in WALDORF being awkwardly placed behind that horse and having to be steadied away from its heels after the 150 Metres. Near the 50 Metres, the whip of Apprentice C Wong (WALDORF) was momentarily caught under the breast plate, placing him at a disadvantage for a number of strides. Close to the finishing line, HIGH FIVE shifted out and inconvenienced COBY OPPA. GALLANT RETURN, which was following COBY OPPA, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse passing the winning post and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. For the majority of the race, DIAMOND RHYME (Z Purton) travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. After the race, Z Purton stated that apart from having to endure a wide run, he was not able to offer any explanation for the manner in which DIAMOND RHYME did not finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of DIAMOND RHYME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. When questioned regarding his riding of COBY OPPA in the early stages, K Teetan stated that it was anticipated that DREAM COME TRUE would lead the race as this horse had previously shown sufficient early speed to lead its races last season and had travelled in a forward position in its trials leading up to tonight’s race. He said from barrier 3 he was instructed to allow that horse to cross COBY OPPA and remain racing one horse off the rail as the connections did not want COBY OPPA to be positioned behind DREAM COME TRUE on the rail in the event that that horse was not able to finish off the race. He said COBY OPPA, which was having its first start at Happy Valley tonight, did not show the same early speed that it did at its last start on the All Weather surface and SPECIAL STARS, which was racing to the outside of COBY OPPA, showed more speed than his mount in the early stages. He said he was reluctant to maintain his position inside SPECIAL STARS as he anticipated that that horse would shift in to race one horse off the rail which would likely result in COBY OPPA having to race on the rail. He said if SPECIAL STARS allowed DREAM COME TRUE to cross as he anticipated, this would result in COBY OPPA being positioned on the rail where the was specifically instructed not to be. He said he therefore allowed SPECIAL STARS to cross COBY OPPA and to race on the rail near the 1000 Metres. He added he then rode his mount along to improve his position to race outside SPECIAL STARS, however, HIGH FIVE was improving its position to the outside of COBY OPPA and he believed he would have had to make too much use of his mount to prevent that horse from crossing COBY OPPA, therefore he allowed HIGH FIVE to obtain the position outside DREAM COME TRUE near the 800 Metres and obtained a trailing position behind that horse one horse away from the rail. When questioned regarding the improved performance of HIGH FIVE, Trainer A T Millard stated that he was disappointed in HIGH FIVE’s last start as the horse was ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position as in tonight’s race, however, did not show as much early speed as had been anticipated and after racing further back in the field than had been hoped, the horse then did not finish off the race. He said HIGH FIVE showed more early speed tonight than it was able to last start which resulted in the horse being placed more prominently throughout the race. He said the only further explanation he could offer for the horse’s improved performance tonight was that it may have appreciated the more forgiving track as a result of the rain which fell during the afternoon. He added nonetheless HIGH FIVE’s improved performance was not anticipated as he believed that the horse would be a place chance at best in tonight’s race given its disappointing performance last start. COBY OPPA, HIGH FIVE and ALCARI were sent for sampling.