08/03/2023  Happy Valley  Race 4

On arrival at the Start, it was noted that STURDY RUBY had blood at its mouth. STURDY RUBY was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. RON WILL was badly crowded on jumping between SUNNY BABY which was taken out by BABY and KING OF THE COURT which shifted in abruptly. In this incident, IRON WILL and SUNNY BABY bumped heavily, resulting in both runners becoming unbalanced. SUNNY BABY and IRON WILL were then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Soon after the start, COPARTNER ERA shifted in and bumped STURDY RUBY. After travelling a short distance, LONDON LUCKYSTAR shifted out and made contact with KUNG FU TEA, resulting in KUNG FU TEA shifting out and crowding ALL JOYFUL which was then steadied and shifted in behind KUNG FU TEA. BABY raced keenly in the middle stages and near the 900 Metres was steadied to avoid COPARTNER FIONN, resulting in BABY being taken into a three wide position without cover. BABY was then ridden forward from the 800 Metres. COPARTNER ERA lay in when placed under pressure near the 300 Metres and as a result shifted in behind LONDON LUCKYSTAR. COPARTNER ERA then continued to lay in and proved reluctant to shift to the outside of LONDON LUCKYSTAR until near the 100 Metres where it was able to be placed under full pressure. Near the 200 Metres, STURDY RUBY raced in restricted room to the inside of KUNG FU TEA which was inclined to lay in before KUNG FU TEA was corrected by its rider, L Ferraris. KUNG FU TEA then continued to lay in for the remainder of the event. After the race, C L Chau (LONDON LUCKYSTAR) reported that his mount travelled comfortably behind the leaders in the early stages and after initially responding to his riding in the early part of the Straight did not finish the race off as well as expected over the final 150 Metres. A veterinary inspection of LONDON LUCKYSTAR immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, LONDON LUCKYSTAR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, ODE TO JOY was noted to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LONDON LUCKYSTAR, KING OF THE COURT and KUNG FU TEA were sent for sampling.