23/02/2022  Happy Valley  Race 1

From a wide barrier, GOLDEN SPECTRUM was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. NATURAL STORM shifted out at the start and bumped WINNING VOLATILITY, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Then from the outside barriers, NATURAL STORM and WINNING VOLATILITY were steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover shortly after the start. Near the 2000 Metres, VICTORIOUS SEEKER was steadied away from the heels of MISTER MONTE (H T Mo) which, after initially being clear to shift in, was then steadied by its rider when being shifted in which resulted in VICTORIOUS SEEKER being awkwardly placed. H T Mo was reprimanded. Approaching and passing the 1600 Metres, ASIAN ONE travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind GO BALLISTIC. Then approaching the winning post on the first occasion, ASIAN ONE was steadied away from the heels of GO BALLISTIC (D Moor) which shifted in when not properly clear. D Moor was reprimanded and told to ensure that he provides sufficient clearance in similar circumstances. When being steadied away from the heels of GO BALLISTIC passing the winning post on the first occasion, ASIAN ONE shifted in and bumped VICTORIOUS SEEKER. For some distance after this, ASIAN ONE continued to be awkwardly placed behind GO BALLISTIC. After the 500 Metres, ASIAN ONE raced tight between VICTORIOUS SEEKER and GO BALLISTIC when improving into restricted room between those horses. Rounding the Home Turn, GO BALLISTIC shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of LEGION OF MERIT which became badly unbalanced. GO BALLISTIC was then crowded for room between LEGION OF MERIT which shifted in when unbalanced and ASIAN ONE which shifted out. At the entrance to the Straight, STIMULATION was awkwardly placed inside the heels of WONDER YEARS which shifted in marginally. Passing the winning post, LEGION OF MERIT was checked when crowded for room between WONDER YEARS which improved into tight running between LEGION OF MERIT and ASIAN ONE and WINNING VOLATILITY which got its head on the side and shifted in away from NATURAL STORM (K C Leung) which shifted in under pressure before being corrected by its rider. K C Leung was severely reprimanded and told that whilst the Stewards accepted that WINNING VOLATILITY laying in away from NATURAL STORM had played a part in this incident, nonetheless he had allowed his mount to shift in a considerable amount of ground prior to taking corrective efforts. Because of the corrective efforts taken by Jockey Leung, NATURAL STORM was not ridden out all the way to the end of the race. After the race, D Moor explained that he was instructed not to lead on GO BALLISTIC tonight if at all possible. He said however that GO BALLISTIC was left racing wide and without cover in the early part of the race and he had no alternative other than to allow the horse to improve its position to race outside the lead. He said he had hoped that another runner would then improve forward of GO BALLISTIC and provide his mount with cover in the middle stages, however, that did not eventuate. A veterinary inspection of GO BALLISTIC immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. When questioned, A Badel (LEGION OF MERIT) stated that after the 1800 Metres he was hopeful that CHAMPION PAL would shift in from a position one horse off the fence to race on the rail as he was of the belief that WONDER YEARS, which was racing inside the heels of CHAMPION PAL, was not being ridden to obtain the position inside CHAMPION PAL. He said however that due to the slow tempo of the race after the 1800 Metres CHAMPION PAL remained racing one horse off the rail as the gap between WONDER YEARS and VICTORIOUS SEEKER, which was racing in advance of that horse, had closed. He said this resulted in LEGION OF MERIT being left racing three wide and without cover approaching the winning post on the first occasion as GO BALLISTIC shifted in to race outside the lead. He said he did give consideration to allowing LEGION OF MERIT to improve its position due to the slow tempo of the race after passing the winning post on the first occasion, however, he was aware that GO BALLISTIC was travelling strongly and he was concerned that if he did ride his mount along to improve to possibly race outside the lead, GO BALLISTIC would improve with LEGION OF MERIT which would have resulted in the horse having to be made use of in the middle stages to improve but still having to remain racing in a three wide position without cover. He said for this reason he remained racing in a three wide position without cover and ensured that LEGION OF MERIT was balanced. He added he intended to commence to improve his position after the 800 Metres, however, CHAMPION PAL was able to improve very quickly around his mount after the 900 Metres which resulted in the tempo of the race quickening and that LEGION OF MERIT was not travelling strongly enough at this time to be ridden forward to improve with CHAMPION PAL. A veterinary inspection of GOLDEN SPECTRUM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHAMPION PAL and ASIAN ONE were sent for sampling.