08/01/2020  Happy Valley  Race 1

VIGOR CHAMP was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind). Before being allowed to race again, VIGOR CHAMP will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded into the barriers, SO HAPPY (A Badel) became fractious and reared which resulted in A Badel dropping his whip. SO HAPPY was removed from the barriers to allow the whip to be retrieved. SO HAPPY began only fairly. GOOD FOR YOU shifted in at the start and bumped THIS IS CHARISMA. CALIFORNIA RAD began awkwardly, shifted in abruptly at the start and bumped the hindquarters of BREEDERS’ SKY, causing both horses to become unbalanced. KING PRINT was steadied to obtain cover in the early stages. Near the 1050 Metres, BREEDERS’ SKY and CALIFORNIA RAD bumped. Passing the 1000 Metres, FOCUS got its head up and travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover. Passing the 900 Metres, VIVA COUNCIL commenced to travel keenly and passing the 800 Metres shifted out away from the heels of BRAVERY AND POWER. When questioned, Mr L Ho, trainer of VIVA COUNCIL, stated that in discussions with the owner of VIVA COUNCIL, it was decided that too much use of the horse would have to be made to cross runners to obtain a forward position after drawing the outside barrier. He said it was therefore decided to ride VIVA COUNCIL more patiently in the anticipation that the horse would be able to finish off the race better than it would were it to be ridden to obtain a forward position. A veterinary inspection of BREEDERS’ SKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SO HAPPY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. GOOD FOR YOU and SUPER ALLIANCES were sent for sampling.