13/01/2021  Happy Valley  Race 1

After jumping away awkwardly and making contact with PERFECT TO PLAY, DYNAMIC EAGLE shifted out and brushed with MAGNETISM. From wide barriers, VICTORIOUS SEEKER, BULLISH GLORY and MORE THAN A HORSE were all shifted across behind runners soon after the start. At the 650 Metres, EXALTATION and PEACH BLOSSOMS bumped. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, PEACH BLOSSOMS shifted in and made contact with OWNERS’ STAR and consequently shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of EXALTATION, resulting in PEACH BLOSSOMS and EXALTATION becoming badly unbalanced. For some distance after leaving the 600 Metres, DYNAMIC EAGLE and PERFECT TO PLAY lost ground when held up behind FULL POWER which came under pressure when commenced to give ground. Upon straightening, MORE THAN A HORSE shifted in and brushed the hindquarters of MAGNETISM. Soon after straightening, PEACH BLOSSOMS commenced to lay in and bumped with OWNERS’ STAR, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. PEACH BLOSSOMS continued to lay in and again made contact with OWNERS’ STAR which was inconvenienced approaching the 100 Metres. After the 150 Metres, DYNAMIC EAGLE and MAGNETISM made contact. After the race, Z Purton stated that MORE THAN A HORSE was never travelling comfortably and became unbalanced in its action prior to straightening. He said the manner in which the horse failed to close off the race in the Straight gave him the impression that something may be amiss with MORE THAN A HORSE. A veterinary inspection of MORE THAN A HORSE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. The performance of MORE THAN A HORSE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MORE THAN A HORSE 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 FULL POWER and OWNERS’ STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VICTORIOUS SEEKER and EXALTATION were sent for sampling.