23/12/2020  Happy Valley  Race 6

Just prior to the start being effected, THOU SHALL SING lunged at the front gate, then sat back and consequently missed the start badly. Before being allowed to race again, THOU SHALL SING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. BRIGHT KID was very slow to begin. SPARKLING DRAGON and IMA SINGLE MAN began very awkwardly. HARRIER JET shifted out at the start and made contact with MAN STAR. From wide barriers, SUPER COMMANDER and LOVING A BOOM were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Rounding the Home turn, LOVING A BOOM was awkwardly placed behind SUPER COMMANDER and IMA SINGLE MAN. Soon after straightening, IMA SINGLE MAN got its head on the side and lay in, causing some inconvenience to SUPER COMMANDER. After passing the 150 Metres, IMA SINGLE MAN was inconvenienced by SUPER AXIOM which got its head on the side and shifted in as it weakened. Passing the 50 Metres, MORE THAN A HORSE and SUPER COMMANDER were crowded for room between SUPER AXIOM and MAN STAR which shifted in. When questioned, C Schofield stated that SUPER AXIOM began very well and was initially shifting in to settle outside the early leader GRATEFUL HEART, however, near the 1100 Metres the horse gave him the impression that it may attempt to buck and then started to travel very strongly. He said whilst he would have preferred steadying and racing outside of GRATEFUL HEART, he felt obliged to allow SUPER AXIOM to roll forward of that horse in the hope that it would settle better. He said however that SUPER AXIOM then took charge along the Back Straight and raced far too keenly which he knew would affect its finishing effort. He said the horse settled better after the 600 Metres, however, came off the bridle approaching the Home Turn and then felt very awkward in its action. He added the manner in which SUPER AXIOM then weakened badly in the Straight could be attributed to it failing to settle in the early and middle stages. When SUPER AXIOM was weakening in the Straight, LOVING A BOOM made ground quickly behind that horse and was severely checked away from the heels of SUPER AXIOM approaching the 150 Metres. A veterinary inspection of SUPER AXIOM immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in both hind legs. The performance of SUPER AXIOM, a winner of its only start and a favourite for tonight’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER AXIOM will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MAN STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER AXIOM, GRATEFUL HEART and HARRIER JET were sent for sampling.