03/05/2023  Happy Valley  Race 7

MAYHEM jumped only fairly and then was crowded for room between PARTY WARRIOR and NAMJONG SINGS which shifted out. In this incident, NAMJONG SINGS lost its left front plate. MAYHEM was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Soon after the start, JOLLY RULER shifted out and away from VICTORY SCHOLARS and as a result made contact with YOU’REMYEVERYTHING, taking YOU’REMYEVERYTHING out and causing WINGS OF WAR to be eased when crowded between YOU’REMYEVERYTHING and O’LINER. From the outside barrier, PARTY WARRIOR was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. VICTORY SCHOLARS hung out making the first turn. HUMBLE STAR was held up on the Home Turn. Passing the 300 Metres, HOSS improved into a narrow run between JOLLY RULER and COMPASSION SPIRIT. A short distance later, COMPASSION SPIRIT shifted out slightly, causing HOSS to shift out and bump JOLLY RULER, resulting in JOLLY RULER becoming unbalanced, shifting out and hampering NAMJONG SINGS. When placed under pressure in the Straight, MAYHEM was inclined to lay in and proved difficult to ride out. JOLLY RULER raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. A veterinary inspection of JOLLY RULER immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. When questioned regarding his riding on the Home Turn, H Bentley (WINGS OF WAR) stated that after following HOSS making the Home Turn, he elected to remain racing behind that runner with a view to following it through as it was the favourite in the event. He added that he felt in the circumstances to come wide would not have assisted his horse’s chances by having to cover additional ground. He said although briefly held up on the Home Turn, when HOSS quickened at the top of the Straight, WINGS OF WAR secured clear running and was able to finish the race off well. HOSS and PARTY WARRIOR were sent for sampling.