12/01/2022  Happy Valley  Race 5

LOYAL AMBITION began only fairly. MOERAKI shifted out at the start and bumped HYPERION TREE which became unbalanced when crowded for room inside EVER LAUGH. From wide barriers, SHADOW BREAKER and REGENCY MASTER were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. WINNING VOLATILITY was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, GLORIOUS LOVER was awkwardly placed outside the heels of LOYAL AMBITION when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, EVER LAUGH commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was severely checked away from the heels of TRAVEL GLORY approaching and passing the 1400 Metres. Near the 1400 Metres, LOYAL AMBITION was steadied away from the heels of HYPERION TREE. HYPERION TREE was then awkwardly placed behind OFF THE REEL passing the 1300 Metres. After the 1200 Metres, WINNING VOLATILITY was left racing wide and without cover and was then allowed to improve its position in the middle stages to race outside the lead approaching the 800 Metres. Near the 1050 Metres, SHADOW BREAKER was steadied away from the heels of REGENCY MASTER which itself was awkwardly placed behind DR WINNING. After the 900 Metres, OFF THE REEL raced wide and without cover. After the 500 Metres, MOERAKI got its head on the side and lay out, resulting in WINNING VOLATILITY, which was racing to the outside of that horse, also being taken out marginally. MORE THAN ENOUGH (M Chadwick), which was following WINNING VOLATILITY, then improved to be racing tight inside the heels of that horse approaching the 400 Metres. When WINNING VOLATILITY shifted back in marginally, MORE THAN ENOUGH was shifted in away from the heels of that horse, resulting in TRAVEL GLORY becoming badly unbalanced and losing ground when crowded for room inside MORE THAN ENOUGH which itself was then awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINNING VOLATILITY at the entrance to the Straight. M Chadwick was told that whilst the Stewards accepted that WINNING VOLATILITY had shifted out into a tight three wide position, nonetheless he must ensure that he exercises due care when attempting to position his horses to take advantage of tight runs so that horses which are racing around his mounts are able to maintain their running. When TRAVEL GLORY was crowded for room, DR WINNING, which was following, was checked out away from the heels of that horse in consequence, resulting in REGENCY MASTER being inconvenienced. At the entrance to the Straight, GLORIOUS LOVER shifted in and bumped OFF THE REEL. At the 300 Metres, WINNING VOLATILITY was awkwardly placed outside the heels of MOERAKI. When questioned, J Moreira stated that passing the 1000 Metres GLORIOUS LOVER was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of HYPERION TREE due to the moderate tempo of the race at that time. He said rather than remain racing back in the field and having to be checked away from the heels of runners in front, he elected to allow his mount to improve its position passing the 900 Metres due to the pace of the race. He said as he improved around OFF THE REEL, that horse was ridden along to improve with GLORIOUS LOVER. He said he rode his mount along after the 800 Metres in an attempt to clear OFF THE REEL as GLORIOUS LOVER was racing in a four wide position at this time, however, GLORIOUS LOVER was not able to show sufficient speed to be able to clear OFF THE REEL which continued to be ridden along to maintain its position inside his mount. He said this resulted in GLORIOUS LOVER having to race in a four wide position and without cover for the remainder of the race. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that GLORIOUS LOVER had sustained a small wound to the right hind leg. A veterinary inspection of MORE THAN ENOUGH, WINNING VOLATILITY, LOYAL AMBITION and TRAVEL GLORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GLORIOUS LOVER, OFF THE REEL and EVER LAUGH were sent for sampling.