12/01/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

From the outside barriers, PRANCE DRAGON, HANDSOME BOY and LUCKY QUALITY were all steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. INESTIMABLE and FALCON TURBO bumped on a number of occasions shortly after the start. After the 1100 Metres, INESTIMABLE commenced to travel keenly, shifted out and inconvenienced FARIBAULT. UNIVERSAL GO GO, which was racing outside the heels of FARIBAULT, was inconvenienced in consequence. MOON PEAKS travelled wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn, LUCKY QUALITY was steadied away from the heels of HANDSOME BOY when held up behind that horse. Approaching the 250 Metres, TOUCH FAITH shifted out and brushed MOON PEAKS. MOON PEAKS then shifted out away from TOUCH FAITH and near the 200 Metres bumped FARIBAULT, causing that horse to become unbalanced. For the majority of the race, INESTIMABLE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of FARIBAULT in the middle stages, M Chadwick stated that he was instructed to position FARIBAULT in about a midfield position if possible. He said there were a number of runners which were drawn more favourably than FARIBAULT which were expected to obtain forward positions and rather than use his mount up in an endeavour to clear those horses, it was felt that it would be in FARIBAULT’s best interests to allow those horses to obtain forward positions and then obtain cover behind the speed. He said after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of INESTIMABLE near the 1000 Metres when obtaining cover behind that horse, this resulted in TOUCH FAITH, which was racing immediately to the inside of FARIBAULT, holding a slight advantage over his mount. He said rather than remain racing in a three wide position behind INESTIMABLE, he elected to steady FARIBAULT and obtain a position behind TOUCH FAITH which he felt would be a horse which would take him into the race. He added no sooner did he do this than TOUCH FAITH came off the bridle and had to be ridden along to maintain its position behind FALCON TURBO. He said when this happened he realized that he had made an error in electing to follow TOUCH FAITH as it resulted in FARIBAULT being further out of its ground than had been anticipated. He said rather than remain racing behind that horse and continue for FARIBAULT to race out of its ground, he elected after the 500 Metres to commence shifting to the outside of TOUCH FAITH and then to the outside of MOON PEAKS after the 400 Metres. He said he was then able to obtain clear running on FARIBAULT at the entrance to the Straight and the horse finished off the race well. M Chadwick was told that his explanation would be reported, however, he must ensure that he places his mounts in the most advantageous position wherever appropriate circumstances exist. A veterinary inspection of HANDSOME BOY and TOUCH FAITH immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in both horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, HANDSOME BOY and TOUCH FAITH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FALCON TURBO, PRANCE DRAGON and HAPPILY FRIENDS were sent for sampling.