06/04/2022  Happy Valley  Race 5

In the Parade Ring, NOBLE ONE proved very fractious and backed into a rail at which point Z Purton dismounted without incident. On arrival at the Start, NOBLE ONE was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. After being loaded into the barriers, SHINING FORTUNE, which was having its first race start tonight. became fractious and reared on a number of occasions. Before being allowed to race again, SHINING FORTUNE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. FARIBAULT began awkwardly and then lost ground when bumped by WINNING ICEY which shifted in. VAMOS and NOBLE ONE bumped at the start and again a short distance later. From a wide barrier, HAPPY SOUL was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover and shortly after the start was awkwardly placed outside the heels of KOWLOON EAST STAR. Passing the 900 Metres, VAMOS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of NOBLE ONE when being steadied to obtain a position close to the rail. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, WINNING ICEY got its head on the side and lay out. Approaching the 400 Metres, VAMOS lost ground when crowded for room inside NOBLE ONE which got its head on the side and lay in away from SHINING FORTUNE which itself shifted in marginally. As the Stewards were of the opinion that the incident resulted from marginal shifts from NOBLE ONE and SHINING FORTUNE, both of which were having their first race starts tonight, no further action was taken. Approaching the 200 Metres, M L Yeung (HAPPY TANGO) dropped his right rein as he changed his whip into his right hand. As M L Yeung was regathering his rein passing the 150 Metres, his whip became entangled in the rein for a short distance. Near the 125 Metres, SHINING FORTUNE shifted out away from the heels of HAPPY TANGO when held up for clear running behind that horse and in doing so bumped MIGHTY VALOR. Close to the finishing line, the whip of M L Yeung was knocked from his grasp by the whip of K C Leung (SUPER COMMANDER). For the majority of the race, HAPPY TANGO travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton stated that if NOBLE ONE began well, it was intended for the horse to take up a forward position. He said however that if NOBLE ONE did not begin well as it had done in some of its trials in the lead up to tonight’s race, he was asked to ride the horse where it was comfortable. He said NOBLE ONE began only fairly and because of this he was not able to take up as forward a position as hoped. He said passing the 800 Metres he steadied NOBLE ONE behind SHINING FORTUNE to obtain a position closer to the rail. He added that in the early part of the Straight he attempted to shift to the outside of HAPPY TANGO to obtain clear running, however, SHINING FORTUNE was positioned outside the heels of NOBLE ONE and had he have continued to shift out, this would have resulted in NOBLE ONE causing interference to SHINING FORTUNE as that horse was maintaining its position to his outside. He said this resulted in NOBLE ONE being unable to obtain clear running and consequently not being able to be properly tested. He was of the view that had NOBLE ONE obtained clear running in the early part of the Straight, the horse would have finished the race off well. A veterinary inspection of NOBLE ONE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FARIBAULT, MULTIMORE and VAMOS were sent for sampling.