30/11/2022  Happy Valley  Race 5

OWNERS’ PRAISE began only fairly. JAZZ STEED was crowded for room on jumping between MULTIMORE which began awkwardly and shifted in and LORIZ which shifted out. After this, JAZZ STEED was shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier. Also from the outside barriers, HARMONY N HOME and RIGHTEOUS ARION were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. Making the turn after the 1100 Metres, HARDLY SWEARS and RATTAN KINGDOM bumped. After being ridden along for some distance in the early stages to obtain a forward position, MULTIMORE was steadied passing the 1000 Metres to obtain cover when racing very wide. After the 900 Metres, HARDLY SWEARS raced tight inside RATTAN KINGDOM which was taken in by HAPPY TRIO (L Hewitson). L Hewitson was reprimanded and told that in future he must ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground. After being crossed by HAPPY TRIO, RATTAN KINGDOM (L Currie) then shifted in, resulting in HARDLY SWEARS continuing to race tight between FLAMING PASSION and RATTAN KINGDOM and after the 800 Metres being steadied away from the heels of RATTAN KINGDOM. L Currie was also reprimanded and told that after being crossed by HAPPY TRIO, he should have endeavoured to relieve the tightening to HARDLY SWEARS when there was an opportunity to do so. At the 700 Metres, LORIZ was left racing wide and without cover. After the 700 Metres, RIGHTEOUS ARION, which was having its first race start tonight, travelled keenly and got its head up on a number of occasions when very awkwardly placed behind LORIZ. RIGHTEOUS ARION shifted out when awkwardly placed behind LORIZ, resulting in MULTIMORE being taken wider and without cover. Approaching the 600 Metres, HARDLY SWEARS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of RATTAN KINGDOM. Approaching the 150 Metres, HARDLY SWEARS was hampered when steadied away from the heels of HAPPY GATHERING (M L Yeung) which shifted out under pressure. M L Yeung was severely reprimanded and told that in similar circumstances he would be expected to be aware of his mounts shifting ground and straighten them at the earliest opportunity. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FLAMING PASSION, H Bowman stated that the horse’s failure to run on in the Straight was attributable to the manner in which the race was run in the early and middle stages. He said after obtaining a good position from barrier 1 in the early stages, runners to his outside which were ridden to obtain forward positions took a considerable time to improve forward of FLAMING PASSION which resulted in his mount going too hard approaching and passing the 900 Metres when racing without cover. He said FLAMING PASSION then raced tight inside HARDLY SWEARS after the 900 Metres and became unbalanced which resulted in FLAMING PASSION, which was continuing to race without cover, not being able to settle into a rhythm. He added that when crossed by HAPPY TRIO after the 800 Metres, FLAMING PASSION then travelled keenly for a considerable distance approaching and passing the 600 Metres. He said because of these circumstances FLAMING PASSION, after coming under pressure passing the 300 Metres, was not able to quicken and then weakened out of the race over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of FLAMING PASSION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HARDLY SWEARS, MULTIMORE and LORIZ immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. RATTAN KINGDOM and OWNERS’ PRAISE were sent for sampling.