09/03/2022  Happy Valley  Race 9

When parading behind the barriers, EXCEPTIONAL NICE cast its right front plate, resulting in the start being delayed. EXCEPTIONAL NICE and BARON ZEE bumped at the start. BARON ZEE then shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of CINQUANTE CINQ which became unbalanced. BEAUTY GLORY shifted out on jumping and bumped SAVVY KINGMAN which shifted out and inconvenienced DR WINNING. From the outside barriers, APACHE PASS and SMILING TIME were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. After travelling a short distance, DARCI JOY and KING’S CAPITAL bumped. DARCI JOY travelled wide and without cover until near the 700 Metres at which time the horse shifted in to race outside the lead. Passing the 300 Metres, KING TOURBILLON got its head on the side and shifted in towards the heels of BEAUTY GLORY. Passing the 175 Metres, CINQUANTE CINQ and BEAUTY GLORY bumped. Near the 100 Metres, DARCI JOY got its head on the side, shifted out and inconvenienced BEAUTY GLORY. After the race, Z Purton stated that in the early stages he had to make some use of SAVVY KINGMAN to cross runners to its inside. He said after passing the winning post on the first occasion he was able to shift across to race outside the lead before improving into the lead near the 1100 Metres. He said SAVVY KINGMAN then travelled satisfactorily in the lead in the middle stages, however, he had to commence to ride his mount along prior to the 700 Metres to maintain its position as DARCI JOY was improving to the outside of SAVVY KINGMAN. He added that he placed SAVVY KINGMAN under pressure in the early part of the Straight and it was not until after the 100 Metres that SAVVY KINGMAN commenced to give ground which he attributed to the horse having to do some work in the early stages and then being taken on in the lead near the 700 Metres. A veterinary inspection of SAVVY KINGMAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of APACHE PASS and BARON ZEE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EXCEPTIONAL NICE, KING’S CAPITAL and DR WINNING were sent for sampling.