10/11/2010  Happy Valley  Race 6

CHEETAH BOY was difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, CHEETAH BOY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. From the outside barrier, CAGA SPIRIT was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, PRECISION MAGIC, BOLERO and MASTER GUNNER all raced tight between HUSSLER and CHEETAH BOY which shifted out after being bumped by HAPPY SEVEN. Passing the 1600 Metres, HUSSLER and CHEETAH BOY bumped. Approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, CAGA SPIRIT proved difficult to settle. Near the 800 Metres, CHEETAH BOY shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HUSSLER, in doing so bumped MASTER GUNNER and took that horse wider. Passing the 600 Metres, HAPPY SEVEN shifted away from the fence from behind EIGHT PLUS NINE, resulting in HUSSLER and MASTER GUNNER being taken wider. Rounding the Home Turn, HOLD HANDS became badly unbalanced when racing inside PRECISION MAGIC and behind LUMINOUS. CAGA SPIRIT, which was following HOLD HANDS, was checked in consequence. At the same time, BOLERO was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HUSSLER which was giving ground. In this incident, BOLERO shifted out, resulting in AMBITIOUS OWNER being taken wider and racing tight to the inside of FUN RIDER. Near the 250 Metres, PRECISION MAGIC was shifted to the outside of MASTER GUNNER to obtain clear running. Passing the 150 Metres, PRECISION MAGIC (B Prebble) was steadied away from the heels of MASTER GUNNER which shifted out and away from HAPPY SEVEN. B Prebble reported that after being steadied away from the heels of MASTER GUNNER passing the 150 Metres, PRECISION MAGIC shortened stride noticeably and the manner in which it gave ground over the concluding stages was, in his opinion, quite concerning. A veterinary inspection of PRECISION MAGIC after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of PRECISION MAGIC was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, PRECISION MAGIC will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. In the Straight, CHEETAH BOY got its head on the side and hung out. For the majority of the race, MASTER GUNNER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, O Doleuze (EIGHT PLUS NINE) stated that he had to make some use of the horse in the early stages to cross runners to his inside. He said after obtaining a position in the lead on the rail passing the 1300 Metres, he steadied EIGHT PLUS NINE and, in his opinion, the tempo of the race after this was not overly strong. He said he was surprised on entering the Back Straight that EIGHT PLUS NINE had established a break on the rest of the field, however, the horse was travelling comfortably and he continued to believe the tempo of the race in the middle stages was not strong. When questioned regarding the performance of HUSSLER, Apprentice M L Yeung stated that as far out as the 1200 Metres, he did not believe that HUSSLER was stretching out as fluently as it did when he rode the horse at its most recent start. He said prior to rounding the Home Turn, he placed HUSSLER under pressure, however, the horse shortened stride appreciably and gave ground rapidly rounding the Home Turn. He said, in his opinion, HUSSLER felt sore in front and for this reason he eased the horse down from the 250 Metres. A veterinary inspection of HUSSLER after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of HUSSLER was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HUSSLER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HOLD HANDS, FUN RIDER and HAPPY SEVEN were sent for sampling.