26/02/2020  Happy Valley  Race 1

Shortly after the start, ENJOYABLE SUCCESS raced tight inside SPEEDY WALLY which shifted in. Approaching the 1700 Metres, YOUNG GLORY momentarily raced tight between BREAK RECORD and MCMUNIGAL which shifted in before being directed back out to relieve the tightening to YOUNG GLORY. Approaching the 1600 Metres, GARLIC YEAH and YOUNG GLORY raced tight. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, VICTORIOUS SEEKER shifted in and brushed GOLD VELVET. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, GARLIC YEAH was momentarily steadied away from the heels of GOLD VELVET. Near the 1000 Metres, LITTLE ISLAND was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 700 Metres, SPEEDY WALLY was taken wider by YOUNG GLORY which shifted out away from the heels of VICTORIOUS SEEKER. SPEEDY WALLY was then steadied passing the 700 Metres to obtain cover behind YOUNG GLORY. VICTORIOUS SEEKER was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn. GARLIC YEAH was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and passing the 200 Metres was steadied when disappointed for a run between ASSOCIATION FANS and BREAK RECORD. After this, GARLIC YEAH was shifted to the inside of ASSOCIATION FANS to obtain clear running. Passing the 300 Metres, BREAK RECORD and YOUNG GLORY made contact. After this, YOUNG GLORY was awkwardly placed outside the heels of BREAK RECORD until near the 250 Metres. Passing the 100 Metres, C Schofield (GOLD VELVET) experienced difficulty in gathering his left rein. After the 100 Metres, WICKER raced tight inside ENJOYABLE SUCCESS which, after improving to the inside of MCMUNIGAL, was taken in marginally by that horse. Close to the finishing line, MCMUNIGAL was steadied away from the heels of GOLD VELVET which shifted in under pressure. C Schofield was reprimanded and advised to ensure that in similar circumstances he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. When questioned, N Callan stated that, from the outside barrier, he was asked to ride DIVINE POWER positively in the early stages and obtain a forward position with the option to lead. He said he rode his mount along in the early stages and DIVINE POWER was able to shift across runners to its inside to obtain the lead passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said after obtaining the lead, he elected to steady the tempo on DIVINE POWER, however, when MCMUNIGAL was ridden along to race outside DIVINE POWER, his mount travelled keenly in the lead with the blinkers on. He said DIVINE POWER travelled strongly until after the 800 Metres when he was able to relax the tempo, however, it came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight gave ground. He added, based on the manner in which DIVINE POWER raced tonight, he recommended to connections that they consider removing the blinkers from the horse in its future starts and bringing it back in distance. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SPEEDY WALLY, Z Purton stated that his mount was fractious in the barriers and then with the pace of the race being good, did not travel strongly. He said rounding the Home Turn SPEEDY WALLY got its head on the side and lay out and then did not finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of SPEEDY WALLY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. WICKER, GOLD VELVET and ENJOYABLE SUCCESS were sent for sampling.