25/11/2020  Happy Valley  Race 2

PLAY WISE stumbled at the start and lost ground. After this, despite being ridden along, PLAY WISE was slow to muster speed. CHARIZARD shifted in abruptly at the start, resulting in UNIVERSAL GO GO being crowded for room outside INDIGENOUS STAR which became unbalanced after being bumped by UNIVERSAL GO GO. After this, UNIVERSAL GO GO was steadied to obtain cover. Shortly after the start, SPEED FORCE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of FAITHFUL TRINITY when being steadied to obtain cover. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, VICTORIOUS SEEKER failed to muster speed and from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, CHARIZARD was very awkwardly placed outside the heels of INDIGENOUS STAR when being steadied to obtain cover. For a considerable distance approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, SHADOW BREAKER travelled very keenly in the lead and got its head up on a number of occasions. Passing the 300 Metres, FAITHFUL TRINITY raced tight inside NUNCHUKS which got its head on the side and lay in before being corrected. When being corrected, TOTAL POWER shifted out away from the heels of NUNCHUKS and inconvenienced SPEED FORCE. When being directed to the outside of TOTAL POWER passing the 200 Metres, PLAY WISE was awkwardly placed behind that horse for a short distance as TOTAL POWER shifted out under pressure. This resulted in SPEED FORCE being inconvenienced. A Badel pleaded guilty of a breach of Rule 100(2) in that he failed to ride CHARIZARD, 6th placegetter, out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards. For this breach of the Rule, A Badel was fined a sum of $15,000. When questioned, J Moreira (NUNCHUKS) stated that in pre-race discussions with Mr C Fownes, the trainer of NUNCHUKS, and the connections of that horse, it was felt that there was very few speed horses engaged in the race and from the outside barrier there was an opportunity for NUNCHUKS to obtain a more forward position rather than having to make up ground from the rear of the field in a race which was anticipated not to be run at a good tempo. He said it was hoped that NUNCHUKS would be able to obtain a position with cover one horse off the rail behind the leaders, however, if circumstances did not allow this, it was acceptable for him to race outside the lead. He said NUNCHUKS began very well and he allowed the horse to improve into a forward position. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion he was not able to shift in to race behind SHADOW BREAKER as SPEED FORCE had obtained that position and when SHADOW BREAKER improved into the lead after the 1300 Metres, he shifted across to race outside FAITHFUL TRINITY which had obtained a trailing position behind that horse. He added NUNCHUKS travelled well throughout the race and, in his opinion, finished off the race satisfactorily. Mr Fownes confirmed that due to the anticipated lack of pace in the race, he had asked Jockey Moreira to obtain a more forward position on NUNCHUKS and it was hoped that it would be able to obtain a trailing position with cover. He said due to the lack of anticipated pace, he felt that NUNCHUKS would have had too much to do in the latter stages of the race and therefore he felt that it was in the best interests of the horse for it to be ridden more positively. A veterinary inspection of UNIVERSAL GO GO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TOTAL POWER and PLAY WISE were sent for sampling.