20/04/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

MAKE IT TURBO began awkwardly and was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. REGENCY MASTER got its head up on jumping when being steadied to obtain cover. COPARTNER ERA shifted out at the start and bumped OUR CLASS ACT which was then bumped by SPICY SKEWER which after initially shifting out and bumping the hindquarters of METHANE was then taken in by that horse which shifted in when unbalanced. From the outside barriers, REACH GOAL and CHATER PINS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, OUR CLASS ACT was momentarily awkwardly placed behind OUR CREED. Passing the 400 Metres, ROYAL PRIDE was shifted out across the heels of SPICY SKEWER to obtain clear running. At the entrance to the Straight, REGENCY MASTER was shifted in away from the heels of MAKE IT TURBO after being disappointed for running between that horse and REACH GOAL. Passing the 300 Metres, REACH GOAL was shifted to the outside of SPICY SKEWER as that horse was awkwardly placed inside METHANE which got its head on the side and shifted in. Passing the 250 Metres, COPARTNER ERA was shifted out away from the heels of FOXHUNTER WAY which, when laying in under pressure, was shifted out away from the heels of OUR CREED. When COPARTNER ERA was shifted out, OUR CLASS ACT, which was outside that horse, shifted out away from COPARTNER ERA, resulting in SPICY SKEWER being inconvenienced. For some distance after the 200 Metres, REACH GOAL and ROYAL PRIDE raced tight. COPARTNER ERA lay in under pressure over the final 100 Metres. When questioned, J Moreira (METHANE) stated that he was instructed to obtain a trailing position behind the anticipated leaders JADE PHOENIX and OUR CREED if possible. He said despite riding his mount along for some distance in the early stages, METHANE did not show sufficient speed to be able to cross SPICY SKEWER to its inside which in turn had OUR CLASS ACT racing to that horse’s inside. He said as METHANE was not showing as much early speed as anticipated, he steadied his mount approaching the winning post on the first occasion in an attempt to obtain a trailing position behind SPICY SKEWER. He said as he was doing this SPICY SKEWER was steadied by its rider to obtain a trailing position behind OUR CLASS ACT and as ROYAL PRIDE was directly behind that horse, METHANE was left racing three wide and without cover. He said passing the 1300 Metres SPICY SKEWER shifted out abruptly and he had to ride his mount forward of that horse to avoid being taken unnecessarily wide if SPICY SKEWER continued to shift out. He said after the 1100 Metres he had hoped to be able to obtain a trailing position behind OUR CREED as there was something of a gap between that horse and OUR CLASS ACT which was following. He said however that as OUR CLASS ACT maintained its position inside METHANE, he was unable to shift in, however, he continued to try and obtain that position approaching and passing the 1000 Metres at which time he had a number of looks to his inside to establish whether it was possible to obtain a trailing position. He said when METHANE was not able to shift in, this resulted in the horse having to continue to race in a three wide position without cover. He said as the race continued to be run at not a fast tempo approaching the 800 Metres, he elected to attempt to improve his position forward of OUR CREED in the hope that the rider of the horse would take a trailing position behind METHANE which would allow METHANE to race outside JADE PHOENIX and one horse off the rail rather than three wide. He said when he improved, OUR CREED and JADE PHOENIX maintained their positions to the inside of METHANE which did not show sufficient speed to be able to cross those horses. He said after the 700 Metres he continued to ride his mount along in an endeavour to improve forward of OUR CREED, however, as a result of that horse continuing to maintain its position and METHANE not being able to improve its position sufficiently to cross that horse, METHANE continued to race in a three wide position without cover. He said after the 600 Metres METHANE came under heavy pressure and despite being vigorously ridden along commenced to weaken. After considering all the circumstances including the relevant sectionals of the race, J Moreira was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in attempting to improve forward of OUR CREED as unless that rider handed up to METHANE, it was unavoidable that METHANE would have had to run a fast section to have been able to improve forward of OUR CREED sufficiently to clear that horse. He was told to ensure that, wherever possible, he rides his mounts to afford them the best opportunity to finish the race off given the circumstances. A veterinary inspection of METHANE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, K Teetan stated that, in his opinion, JADE PHOENIX’s failure to finish tonight’s race off was due to the horse not being able to obtain an uncontested lead as it did at its last start when successful. He said after obtaining the lead shortly after the start, JADE PHOENIX travelled comfortably until passing the 800 Metres. He said at this time he had to allow JADE PHOENIX to stride along when METHANE was ridden forward wider on the track and he did not want to be crossed by that horse in the event that METHANE was able to improve forward of OUR CREED which was racing to the outside of JADE PHOENIX. He said because he had to make use of JADE PHOENIX to consolidate his position after the 800 Metres, this resulted in the horse then not being able to finish the race off strongly. A veterinary inspection of JADE PHOENIX immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JADE PHOENIX, COPARTNER ERA and REACH GOAL were sent for sampling.