14/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 3

C Y Ho (YELLOWFIN) was fined the sum of $3,000 for initially weighing out without a girth which required his saddle being returned from the saddling area in order for him to be re-weighed. RIGHTEOUS ARION, which was fractious in the barriers, began only fairly. GOODLUCK GOODLUCK shifted in at the start and bumped EXUBERANT. EXUBERANT was then crowded for room between GOODLUCK GOODLUCK and MELBOURNE HALL which was taken out by ACT OF FAITH which shifted out away from DRAGON KINGDOM after initially being bumped by that horse. From the outside barriers, FIGHTING STAR, STARSHIP EIGHTY and EASY LIFE were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After travelling a short distance, GOODLUCK GOODLUCK and AMBITIOUS HEART raced tight. Approaching the 1100 Metres, MELBOURNE HALL raced in restricted room between GOODLUCK GOODLUCK which got its head on the side and lay in and ACT OF FAITH which shifted out. Approaching the 1000 Metres, YELLOWFIN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AMBITIOUS HEART after shifting in in an endeavour to improve inside that horse. When YELLOWFIN was steadied away from the heels of AMBITIOUS HEART, it shifted in and bumped MELBOURNE HALL. After this, YELLOWFIN travelled keenly and was awkwardly placed behind AMBITIOUS HEART approaching and passing the 900 Metres. RIGHTEOUS ARION, which was following YELLOWFIN and racing keenly, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse after the 900 Metres. After this, RIGHTEOUS ARION continued to travel keenly and passing the 800 Metres and again near the 750 Metres was hampered by YELLOWFIN which shifted out away from the heels of AMBITIOUS HEART. RIGHTEOUS ARION was again shifted out away from the heels of YELLOWFIN near the 650 Metres. Near the 450 Metres, AMBITIOUS HEART and MELBOURNE HALL raced tight. At the 450 Metres, RIGHTEOUS ARION got its head on the side and lay out. At the entrance to the Straight, AMBITIOUS HEART shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of YELLOWFIN. In the Straight, GOODLUCK GOODLUCK lay in under pressure and passing the 200 Metres shifted in and inconvenienced DRAGON KINGDOM. DRAGON KINGDOM then continued to be awkwardly placed inside GOODLUCK GOODLUCK for some distance after this. Throughout the race, SHADOW RUNNER travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of RIGHTEOUS ARION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EXUBERANT, ACT OF FAITH and YELLOWFIN were sent for sampling.