20/05/2020  Happy Valley  Race 5

GOLDEN GLORY shifted out at the start and bumped DIAMOND RHYME which began awkwardly. After this, DIAMOND RHYME lost ground when crowded for room inside HERO TIME. SO GLORIOUS shifted out at the start and bumped ARES. After this, ARES continued to be awkwardly placed outside SO GLORIOUS which shifted out. SO GLORIOUS lost its left hind plate in the early stages. From wide barriers, MANY GAINS and AMAZING were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, HERO TIME and ARES bumped. Making the turn after the 1050 Metres, SO GLORIOUS got its head on the side and lay out and then after the 800 Metres got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed behind HAPPY WINNER. SO GLORIOUS was left racing wide and without cover near the 700 Metres. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, DIAMOND RHYME was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LUCKY QUALITY and brushed the running rail and shifted out, resulting in HERO TIME being inconvenienced. Near the 550 Metres, ARES got its head up when awkwardly placed behind GOLDEN GLORY. After the 500 Metres, ARES, which was travelling keenly, again got its head up when racing close to the heels of GOLDEN GLORY, resulting in ARES shifting in and causing LUCKY QUALITY to be tightened. ARES then improved into tight running inside GOLDEN GLORY near the 450 Metres, causing LUCKY QUALITY to again race tight inside ARES. SO GLORIOUS lay out rounding the Home Turn. Passing the 300 Metres, LUCKY QUALITY was bumped by ARES which got its head on the side and lay in. AMAZING had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 150 Metres. When questioned, Mr C W Chang, the trainer of HAPPY WINNER, stated that he added Sheepskin Cheek Pieces to the gear carried by the horse in the hope that it may be able to obtain a more prominent position in the early stages. He said two starts ago HAPPY WINNER had performed well when able to be ridden in a position forward of midfield and he had hoped that from a wide barrier HAPPY WINNER may be able to obtain a position behind the speed if possible. He said however, due to the circumstances of the race, HAPPY WINNER was left racing wide and without cover throughout due to the horses to the inside of HAPPY WINNER maintaining their position. He said wherever possible it is his intention to have HAPPY WINNER ridden in a forward position and preferably with cover at its future starts. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY WINNER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HERO TIME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ARES, BULLISH BROTHER and LUCKY QUALITY were sent for sampling.