23/11/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

MEDIC ELITE shifted in at the start and bumped the hindquarters of WAH MAY LUCK, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. After this, despite being ridden along, MEDIC ELITE was slow to muster speed and approaching the winning post on the first occasion was steadied to obtain a position closer to the rail. CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO shifted out on jumping and brushed HANG’S CHOICE which then shifted out away from CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO, resulting in FLASH FAMOUS being crowded for room inside THIS IS CHARISMA. In this incident, THIS IS CHARISMA shifted out and bumped SMILING FACE. After this, from wide barriers, FLASH FAMOUS, THIS IS CHARISMA and SMILING FACE were all shifted across behind runners. Also from the outside barrier, AMAZING NEWS was steadied in the early stages. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, THIS IS CHARISMA raced tight inside SMILING FACE which shifted in. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, COMMON ROOM and MISTER MONTE bumped as MISTER MONTE was steadied away from the heels of SPLENDID STAR which shifted in after being bumped by WAH MAY LUCK. MEDIC ELITE, which was following MISTER MONTE, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. SMILING FACE, which was following MEDIC ELITE, got its head up when awkwardly placed behind that horse also in consequence. After this, SMILING FACE raced close to the heels of MEDIC ELITE for a short distance. After the 1300 Metres, HANG’S CHOICE was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 1200 Metres, THETA HEDGE commenced to travel keenly and was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO. Passing the 700 Metres, AMAZING NEWS and MEDIC ELITE raced tight when AMAZING NEWS improved to the outside of MEDIC ELITE as that horse was being shifted out to follow HANG’S CHOICE. Approaching the 600 Metres, COMMON ROOM shifted out in an attempt to improve into tight running between SPLENDID STAR and MISTER MONTE. When unable to improve between those horses, COMMON ROOM bumped the hindquarters of MISTER MONTE which became unbalanced and shifted in, resulting in COMMON ROOM also becoming unbalanced when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPLENDID STAR. FLASH FAMOUS, which was following COMMON ROOM, was inconvenienced in consequence. Passing the 600 Metres, AMAZING NEWS was left racing wide and without cover. MEDIC ELITE was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and shortly after straightening was shifted to the inside of HANG’S CHOICE after being disappointed for running to the outside of that horse and inside AMAZING NEWS. MEDIC ELITE was then momentarily held up when improving into tight running between CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO and HANG’S CHOICE approaching the 200 Metres. At the 100 Metres, FLASH FAMOUS shifted out and brushed COMMON ROOM. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO, M F Poon stated that after having to ride his mount along in the early stages to take up a forward position, CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO would not relax in the middle stages as it did at its last start when successful. He said, in his opinion, CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO’s failure to run on over the latter stages was attributable to his mount not relaxing in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO, a last start winner and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of THIS IS CHARISMA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MEDIC ELITE, THETA HEDGE and WAH MAY LUCK were sent for sampling.