26/06/2019  Happy Valley  Race 5

ZERO HEDGE stumbled and lost ground when crowded for room on jumping between VERY RICH MAN and DIAMOND KING which shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider. As VERY RICH MAN was shifted out in an attempt to relieve the tightening to ZERO HEDGE, that horse shifted out, resulting in E GENERATION being crowded for room inside MR PICASSO. From wide barriers, JOLLY CONVERGENCE, JENERATOR and MOST BEAUTIFUL were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 500 Metres, ZERO HEDGE got its head up when awkwardly placed behind DIAMOND KING. Shortly after entering the Straight, ZERO HEDGE was shifted to the inside of VALIANT DREAM to obtain clear running. Approaching the 100 Metres, DIAMOND KING was crowded for room between ZERO HEDGE and JENERATOR (T H So) which, when improving into tight running outside VERY RICH MAN, shifted out further away from that horse. In this incident, ZERO HEDGE became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by DIAMOND KING. T H So was reprimanded. Approaching the 50 Metres, VICTORY MACHINE was steadied away from the heels of MOST BEAUTIFUL (G van Niekerk) which, when laying out, shifted ground under pressure. G van Niekerk was reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to make more of an endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. Close to the finishing line, PLANET STAR shifted in and bumped JENERATOR. When questioned, H N Wong stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on VALIANT DREAM and preferably with cover. He said after riding his mount along in the early stages, he was able to clear BREEDERS’ STAR approaching the 900 Metres. He said VALIANT DREAM then travelled keenly and when PLANET STAR improved to its outside approaching the 800 Metres, VALIANT DREAM was inclined to travel keener still. He said after the 800 Metres PLANET STAR was ridden along and as he felt the tempo of the race was good at this time, he did not wish to engage in a speed battle with that horse and therefore elected to allow PLANET STAR, which continued to be ridden along, to cross VALIANT DREAM near the 550 Metres. He said at the entrance to the Straight he shifted VALIANT DREAM to the outside and the horse was commencing to finish off the race, however, near the 200 Metres raced tight between BREEDERS’ STAR and PLANET STAR, both of which shifted ground. He added VALIANT DREAM was then reluctant to again improve in between those horses and over the concluding stages raced tight inside BREEDERS’ STAR and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. A veterinary inspection of VALIANT DREAM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of JOLLY CONVERGENCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VALIANT DREAM, MOST BEAUTIFUL and JENERATOR were sent for sampling.