19/10/2022  Happy Valley  Race 7

STORM LEGEND began only fairly. MASTER DELIGHT was slow to begin. KING’S CAPITAL was steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners. WINNING DRAGON was crowded for room on jumping between AMAZING ONE PLUS and BEAUTY CHAMP which shifted in. From the outside barriers, GIFT OF LIFELINE, RISING FROM ASHES and MALDIVES were all steadied to obtain cover. When being steadied shortly after the start, GIFT OF LIFELINE and RISING FROM ASHES bumped. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, WINNING DRAGON, which was being ridden along in an attempt to improve its position, was momentarily eased away from the heels of BEAUTY CHAMP. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, LOYAL BABY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AMAZING ONE PLUS when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. For a considerable distance approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, BEAUTY CHAMP travelled keenly in the lead and got its head up on a number of occasions when proving very difficult to settle. Passing the 1100 Metres, MALDIVES commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of KING’S CAPITAL. MALDIVES then continued to be awkwardly placed behind KING’S CAPITAL until near the 1000 Metres. After the 800 Metres, AMAZING ONE PLUS was taken wider and without cover by SUPER MISSION which shifted out. Approaching the 200 Metres, MALDIVES, which was making up ground, was crowded for room between KING’S CAPITAL which shifted in and MASTER DELIGHT which at the same time shifted out. When MASTER DELIGHT was corrected by its rider, this resulted in MASTER DELIGHT being very awkwardly placed close to the heels of THE ANOMALY passing the 200 Metres as that horse commenced to give ground which resulted in MASTER DELIGHT shifting out further and causing MALDIVES to again race tight inside KING’S CAPITAL. MASTER DELIGHT was then steadied and directed to the inside of THE ANOMALY to relieve the crowding to MALDIVES. Because of these incidents, MALDIVES was not able to be properly tested in the Straight. After the race, M L Yeung (THE ANOMALY) stated that after being instructed to ride his mount positively in the early stages and obtain a forward position, he had to do more work than he anticipated to be able to cross runners to his inside and race outside the lead near the 1300 Metres. He said the pace of the race in the early and middle stages was much quicker tonight than was the case at the horse’s last start when successful and, in his opinion, this was the reason for THE ANOMALY’s failure to finish the race off in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of THE ANOMALY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MALDIVES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. STORM LEGEND, AMAZING ONE PLUS and RISING FROM ASHES were sent for sampling.