16/09/2020  Happy Valley  Race 5

HEAVENLY THOUGHT and LONDON LUCKYSTAR bumped at the start. Shortly after the start, MAGNETISM and KIRAM were crowded for room between XIANG BAI QI and LIGHTNING STEED which shifted out. From the outside barriers, TANGMERE, LONDON LUCKYSTAR and NOBLE STEED were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, MAGNETISM raced tight inside KIRAM. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, NOBLE STEED momentarily raced tight inside XIANG BAI QI which shifted in after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of KIRAM. Passing the 1300 Metres, XIANG BAI QI got its head on the side and lay in away from SMILING CITY, resulting in NOBLE STEED being crowded for room. Over the concluding stages, NOBLE STEED was awkwardly placed behind HEAVENLY THOUGHT and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. When questioned, V Borges stated that he was instructed to position SMILING CITY in about midfield or behind midfield with cover. He said SMILING CITY began better than he expected and he immediately took hold of his mount with a view to obtaining cover. He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion XIANG BAI QI, KIRAM and MAGNETISM all maintained their position inside SMILING CITY and for this reason he was left racing three wide and without cover when XIANG BAI QI was steadied to obtain a trailing position behind KIRAM. He said he felt that although SMILING CITY began well, he would have had to ride his mount along somewhat to clear XIANG BAI QI and KIRAM in the early stages and this would have been contrary to his instructions. He added after being left racing three wide and without cover, he steadied his mount for a considerable distance approaching and passing the 1300 Metres with a view to attempting to obtain cover behind XIANG BAI QI which required him to come back a number of lengths, given that he had previously been racing in advance of that horse. He said when LONDON LUCKYSTAR maintained its position behind XIANG BAI QI after the 1200 Metres, this resulted in SMILING CITY being left racing three wide and without cover throughout the race. Mr D J Whyte, the trainer of SMILING CITY, stated that he anticipated that XIANG BAI QI, which was drawn more favourably than SMILING CITY, may make it difficult for SMILING CITY to obtain a position with cover and therefore he instructed Jockey Borges, in the first instance, to try and clear XIANG BAI QI and obtain cover, however, if that horse was able to maintain its position to the inside of SMILING CITY, then it was acceptable to him to steady SMILING CITY and obtain a trailing position behind XIANG BAI QI. He said given the way that SMILING CITY began tonight, he felt that the opportunity existed for Jockey Borges to be positive on SMILING CITY and clear XIANG BAI QI and KIRAM to its inside as once the horse was left racing in a three wide position approaching the winning post on the first occasion, it was going to be difficult for him to obtain cover. V Borges was advised that the Stewards would report his explanation, however, in their opinion, he had not been assertive enough in the early stages, particularly having regard to SMILING CITY beginning well. He was told to ensure that, wherever appropriate circumstances permit, to do his utmost to avoid covering unnecessary ground. A veterinary inspection of LONDON LUCKYSTAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SMILING CITY, LIGHTNING STEED and JOLLY HONOUR were sent for sampling.