27/04/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

On arrival at the barriers, ON EXCEL STAR, which made contact with a rail in the Parade Ring, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. JOYFUL GENIUS began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of WIN WIN FIGHTER. KING DRAGON, BRIGHT KID and SUNNY DELIGHT were all steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, ROYAL AGILITY momentarily raced in restricted room inside WORLD FAMOUS. Near the 1350 Metres, MORE THAN ENOUGH shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of ROYAL AGILITY. Approaching 1100 Metres, ON EXCEL STAR travelled keenly and after being shifted across to race behind WORLD FAMOUS got its head up passing the 1100 Metres when awkwardly placed behind that horse. Also approaching the 1100 Metres, WIN WIN FIGHTER commenced to travel very keenly and shifted out away from the heels of CHARIZARD, resulting in JOYFUL GENIUS being crowded for room inside ROYAL AGILITY which became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by JOYFUL GENIUS. WIN WIN FIGHTER then resumed its position behind CHARIZARD near the 1000 Metres. Near the 450 Metres, CHARIZARD and GO FOR TEA raced tight as CHARIZARD improved into tight running between GO FOR TEA and ON EXCEL STAR. Then after the 400 Metres, GO FOR TEA continued to race tight outside CHARIZARD which attempted to shift to the outside of MORE THAN ENOUGH. When CHARIZARD was not able to improve to the outside of MORE THAN ENOUGH, CHARIZARD was steadied away from the heels of that horse passing the 400 Metres. Then on entering the Straight, CHARIZARD was shifted to the inside of MORE THAN ENOUGH to obtain clear running. Passing the 200 Metres, MORE THAN ENOUGH was bumped by CHARIZARD which, when improving into tight running outside ON EXCEL STAR, was taken out marginally by that horse. Approaching and passing the 50 Metres, CHARIZARD raced tight inside JOYFUL GENIUS which lay in under pressure. When questioned, M Chadwick (ROYAL AGILITY) stated that he was asked to obtain a position behind the lead if possible. He said, from barrier 3, he began positively on ROYAL AGILITY and when GO FOR TEA, which was drawn immediately to the inside of ROYAL AGILITY, was ridden along in the early stages, it appeared as though that horse was going to cross CHARIZARD which was racing on the rail. He said he therefore maintained his position outside GO FOR TEA with a view to shifting across with that horse and obtaining a positon one horse off the rail. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion GO FOR TEA improved its position to be about a length in front of CHARIZARD and he anticipated that GO FOR TEA would continue forward of that horse, however, CHARIZARD maintained its position to the inside of GO FOR TEA which resulted in ROYAL AGILITY being left racing in a three wide position after passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said when it became apparent to him that GO FOR TEA was going to remain racing one horse off the rail, he steadied ROYAL AGILITY with a view to obtaining cover behind that horse, however, JOYFUL GENIUS improved its position to be racing inside ROYAL AGILITY and therefore he was not able to shift across to race behind GO FOR TEA. He added that ROYAL AGILITY was able to obtain cover behind MORE THAN ENOUGH in a three wide position until that horse shifted across to race one horse off the rail near the 1000 Metres which resulted in ROYAL AGILITY being left racing wide and without cover. When questioned, K Teetan (MORE THAN ENOUGH) stated that it was anticipated that both ON EXCEL STAR and WORLD FAMOUS would be ridden to obtain forward positions and therefore he was asked to shift his mount across from a wide barrier in the early stages and if an opportunity opened up behind those horses, he should obtain a trailing position, however, if MORE THAN ENOUGH was left racing wide, then he was told to slowly improve his position towards the lead to avoid covering unnecessary ground. He said when WORLD FAMOUS and ON EXCEL STAR obtained forward positions as anticipated shortly after the start, he initially allowed MORE THAN ENOUGH to shift over with those horses and when it was not available for MORE THAN ENOUGH to obtain cover, he allowed his mount to improve its position to race outside the lead near the 1000 Metres. After the race, J Moreira was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of GO FOR TEA. He said whilst he would have preferred to race on the rail behind WORLD FAMOUS, he was not able to do this due to CHARIZARD maintaining its positon to his inside, nonetheless he was comfortable with the position that GO FOR TEA obtained as the horse initially travelled well behind firstly ON EXCEL STAR and then MORE THAN ENOUGH. He said passing the 900 Metres he became concerned with the manner in which GO FOR TEA was travelling as the horse was not maintaining its position behind MORE THAN ENOUGH as well as it should. He said GO FOR TEA came under heavy pressure after the 700 Metres and then after racing tight outside CHARIZARD rounding the Home Turn gave ground in the Straight and, in his opinion, was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of GO FOR TEA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FEARLESS FIRE and ROYAL AGILITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JOYFUL GENIUS, WORLD FAMOUS and WIN WIN FIGHTER were sent for sampling.