11/11/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

A Hamelin (HAPPY ICHIBAN) stated that after pulling up following its preliminary, HAPPY ICHIBAN was reluctant to proceed back around to the barriers. He said as he was aware that the horse had been difficult to manage at its recent race starts, he elected to dismount from HAPPY ICHIBAN and walk that horse for a short distance before assistance arrived from the starting gate handlers. Just prior to the start being effected, AFTER ME got its head down and to the left, resulting in the horse losing a significant amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, AFTER ME will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. VOLPINO began only fairly. HAPPY ICHIBAN shifted in at the start and bumped the hindquarters of LADY FIRST. From wide barriers, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS and ROYAL RACER were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Approaching the 1300 Metres, MALDIVES was steadied away from the heels of JUDY’S STAR (A Badel) which shifted in when not properly clear. A Badel was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. BEST FOR YOU, which was racing inside MALDIVES, was momentarily crowded for room as a consequence. Passing the 1000 Metres, ROYAL RACER was awkwardly placed behind FRESH POWER. Rounding the Home Turn, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS was held up behind BEST FOR YOU. Approaching the 250 Metres, JUDY’S STAR momentarily raced in restricted room between BEST FOR YOU and MALDIVES which shifted in before being corrected by its rider. A Badel, the rider of JUDY’S STAR, stated that he had to ride the horse more forward than was intended as JUDY’S STAR was left racing wide in the early stages and when BEST FOR YOU was steadied by its rider approaching the winning post on the first occasion, he then allowed his mount to stride forward to cross MALDIVES and race in a position one horse off the rail. He said after this JUDY’S STAR travelled only fairly and then came under pressure passing the 500 Metres to hold its position. He said JUDY’S STAR did not quicken and subsequently failed to finish off the race over the concluding stages. He added he did recommend to connections that they consider dropping the horse back in distance and riding it more conservatively than was the case this evening. A veterinary inspection of JUDY’S STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, it was reported that FRESH POWER had sustained a small laceration to the right hind fetlock. LADY FIRST, BEST FOR YOU and ZHAN JIANG ROCKS were sent for sampling.