15/09/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

LITTLE PLAYER began only fairly and then shifted out towards the heels of HAPPY TANGO which shifted in after bumping BALTIC WHISPER on jumping. HAPPILY FRIENDS shifted out at the start and bumped HERO STAR. RED BRICK GLORY, which began awkwardly, was bumped by UNIVERSAL GO GO on jumping. After this, from the outside barrier, UNIVERSAL GO GO was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From wide barriers, NUNCHUKS and LEGION OF MERIT were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. RED BRICK GLORY made the first turn near the 1050 Metres awkwardly and got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied to obtain cover behind HERO STAR. Making the first turn near the 1050 Metres, LITTLE PLAYER got its head on the side, shifted out and bumped PARTY GENIUS which became unbalanced. After this, LITTLE PLAYER continued to race with its head on the side and lay out when travelling keenly and passing the 800 Metres commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of BALTIC WHISPER. LITTLE PLAYER continued to lay out for the remainder of the race and passing the 50 Metres was held up for clear running behind FIRE BALL and HERO STAR. Because of this, LITTLE PLAYER was not able to be tested over the concluding stages. At the entrance to the Straight, NUNCHUKS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LITTLE PLAYER before being shifted to the inside of that horse to obtain clear running. Passing the 300 Metres, HERO STAR shifted in and brushed FIRE BALL. Passing the 200 Metres, FIRE BALL got its head on the side and lay out away from HAPPY TANGO. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he was asked to ride HERO STAR positively in the early stages and obtain a forward position. He said to ensure as far as possible that HERO STAR was able to begin well, he gave the horse a good warm up behind the barriers prior to being loaded. He said after beginning satisfactorily he rode HERO STAR along for some distance in the early stages including slapping the horse down the shoulder with the whip, however, HERO STAR was not able to show sufficient speed to cross runners to its inside and lead. He said making the first turn after the 1000 Metres HERO STAR was racing outside FIRE BALL and HAPPY TANGO and whilst he would have had to make too much use of his mount to cross those horses, it was not travelling well enough to be able to be put in a position to go forward of FIRE BALL and HAPPY TANGO. He said as a result HERO STAR was left racing wide and without cover. After the race, Z Purton reported that FIRE BALL was able to obtain a forward position in the early stages and travelled well outside the lead. He said FIRE BALL came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and after giving him a limited response in the early part of the Straight then weakened over the concluding stages. He said, in his opinion, FIRE BALL’s condition, when racing first up, gave out over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of FIRE BALL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of PARTY GENIUS immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood and mucus in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, PARTY GENIUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FIRE BALL, BALTIC WHISPER and HAPPY TANGO were sent for sampling.