22/04/2020  Happy Valley  Race 5

GOUTEN OF GARO shifted in at the start, resulting in FARM BUMPER being crowded onto GOKO which was bumped by FARM BUMPER and became unbalanced. WE THE SOUTH and LOOK ERAS bumped on jumping. DAILY DELIGHT was crowded for room on jumping between BEAUT BEAUT and DIAMOND PEGASUS which shifted in. After this, from a wide barrier, DAILY DELIGHT was shifted across behind runners. From the outside barrier, FORTUNE HERO was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. When racing wide near the 800 Metres, ISLAND WINNER was steadied to obtain cover. Near the 650 Metres, WINNING WAYS was steadied away from the heels of FARM BUMPER (C Schofield) which shifted in when not properly clear. C Schofield was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Approaching the 250 Metres, WINNING WAYS momentarily raced tight between FARM BUMPER and GOUTEN OF GARO which shifted in. GOUTEN OF GARO then raced tight outside WINNING WAYS near the 150 Metres as WINNING WAYS was shifted to the outside of LOOK ERAS. Near the 50 Metres, DAILY DELIGHT, which was closing off the race, was shifted out from behind WE THE SOUTH and FARM BUMPER in order to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Throughout the race, DIAMOND PEGASUS travelled wide and without cover. After the race, M F Poon stated that BEAUT BEAUT did not feel comfortable in its action in the early stages, however, its action improved as the race progressed. A veterinary inspection of BEAUT BEAUT immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, BEAUT BEAUT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Mr P O’Sullivan, the trainer of MEHBOOB, stated that as the horse had closed off a race strongly over the course and distance when ridden from behind the speed, from a wide barrier tonight, he instructed M Chadwick to shift the horse across behind runners in the early stages and obtain a position in about midfield or slightly worse if possible. A veterinary inspection of MEHBOOB immediately following the race found that horse to have blood at the left nostril. An endoscopic examination of MEHBOOB confirmed the horse to be a bleeder. When questioned regarding the improved performance of WE THE SOUTH, Mr J Moore, the trainer of the horse, stated that at its most recent start the horse had weakened over the concluding stages after travelling too strongly during the early and middle stages. He said after the horse was withdrawn due to a barrier issue at its last intended run, he had barrier trialed the horse on two occasions and, in his opinion these trials were satisfactory. He said in tonight’s race he believed that WE THE SOUTH had benefited by being able to take up the lead without having to be ridden along and by then being able to relax in the middle stages which allowed the horse the opportunity to finish off the race. He said whilst he anticipated that WE THE SOUTH would improve on its most recent start, he did not expect the horse to be a winning chance, particularly given the fact that the horse sweated up in the Parade Ring prior to the race. WINNING WAYS, WE THE SOUTH and FARM BUMPER were sent for sampling.