04/12/2019  Happy Valley  Race 5

MASTER ROMAN was slow to begin. SMART ROCKET began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped STARSHIP. RIGHTEOUS MATE began awkwardly. LIGHTNING STEED began only fairly. LET’S TAKE IT EASY was crowded for room on jumping between MURRAY’S PARTNERS and WINNING ENDEAVOUR which shifted out. From wide barriers, RIGHTEOUS MATE, WINNING ENDEAVOUR and LET’S TAKE IT EASY were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After travelling a short distance, MASTER ROMAN lost its right front plate. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, LIGHTNING STEED was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHARITY WINGS when being steadied in an attempt to obtain a trailing position behind that horse. After shifting in to race behind CHARITY WINGS passing the 1400 Metres, LIGHTNING STEED travelled keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. After the 1300 Metres, FLASH FAMOUS was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 1200 Metres, both SMART ROCKET and LIGHTNING STEED travelled keenly due to the tempo of the race. LIGHTNING STEED continued to over-race and passing the 1000 Metres shifted out away from the heels of SMART ROCKET and after this travelled wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, WINNING ENDEAVOUR was held up for clear running inside RIGHTEOUS MATE and passing the 300 Metres was shifted out across the heels of that horse to obtain clear running. Over the concluding stages, WINNING ENDEAVOUR lay in under pressure, requiring its rider having to stop riding and straighten the horse. Close to the finishing line, CHARITY WINGS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of MURRAY’S PARTNERS when racing tight inside RIGHTEOUS MATE. K Teetan, the rider of DREAM WARRIORS, was fined $10,000 for repeatedly using the whip down the horse’s right shoulder over the final 200 Metres. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration that K Teetan had previously been penalized for a similar breach of the Rules. A veterinary inspection of FLASH FAMOUS, SMART ROCKET and LIGHTNING STEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. RIGHTEOUS MATE, DREAM WARRIORS and MURRAY’S PARTNERS were sent for sampling.