31/10/2007  Happy Valley  Race 3

VIVA FIGHTER was a little slow to begin and then lost further ground when bumped by SOHNA which began awkwardly and shifted in. LIVERBIRD began awkwardly and was slow to muster speed. AURELIAN was slow to begin. WATCHMAN began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of NEW COMMAND which on jumping shifted in. As a consequence, WATCHMAN lost ground and travelled in a rearward position. Near the 1000 Metres, SOHNA, which had been travelling keenly, shifted away from the rail from behind SIXTY SECONDS. This resulted in VICTORY START being carried to a three wide position without cover. Near the 500 Metres, SOLAR EMPIRE broke down and when being eased out of the race shifted out abruptly, causing inconvenience to a number of runners, the worst sufferers being WEALTHY TREASURE and THAT'S IT which were badly hampered and carried wider, SOHNA, which was checked and shifted in away from the heels of THAT'S IT, and VICTORY START which hit the hindquarters of SOLAR EMPIRE, was checked severely, became badly unbalanced and almost dislodged A Delpech, its rider. After this, VICTORY START was eased out of the race. At the 150 Metres, SIXTY SECONDS was bumped on the hindquarters by SOHNA which shifted in. S K Sit (PALIO KING) said from the outside barrier the intention had been to ride the horse in a rearward position. He said PALIO KING began well, he immediately restrained his mount in an endeavour to carry out his instructions, however, PALIO KING travelled keenly and would not come back underneath him. He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion he felt there was sufficient room for him to obtain a position with cover about midfield, he therefore allowed PALIO KING to stride forward in an attempt to obtain this position. He said when he did this, AURELIAN and WATCHMAN improved their positions on his inside and as a consequence he was not able to shift in, resulting in him travelling wide and without cover until after the 1000 Metres. The explanation of S K Sit was accepted. WEALTHY TREASURE was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of WEALTHY TREASURE after the race did not show any significant findings. SOHNA, VIVA FIGHTER and SIXTY SECONDS were sent for sampling.