31/03/2016  Happy Valley  Race 8

Mr C Fownes, the trainer of IMPERIAL CHAMPION, stated that the horse had not been settling in its races and had travelled too keenly and as a consequence had not been finishing off its races. He said therefore he instructed G Lerena to shift the horse across behind runners in the early stages and ride it quietly in the hope that it would be able to close off the race stronger than it had been in its recent starts. Accordingly IMPERIAL CHAMPION was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, AMBER DRAGON failed to muster speed and shortly after the start was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Making the turn after the 1100 Metres, PEACE N PROSPERITY was crowded for room between FOREVER RED and LINE SEEKER which shifted out. In this incident, FOREVER RED became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by PEACE N PROSPERITY. After racing very wide making the turn after the 1100 Metres, GENERAL IRON, HELLA HEDGE and BORNTOACHIEVE were all steadied after entering the Back Straight in an attempt to obtain cover. HELLA HEDGE was however left racing wide and without cover after the 800 Metres. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, WONDERFUL JOURNEY shifted out and bumped GENERAL IRON on a number of occasions, resulting in that horse being awkwardly placed close to the heels of PEACE N PROSPERITY. Near the 100 Metres, GOLDEN DEER shifted out towards the heels of PEACE N PROSPERITY when improving into tight running between that horse and FOREVER RED. G Lerena (IMPERIAL CHAMPION) was warned against the practice of raising his whip arm above the height of his shoulder. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FOREVER RED, J Moreira stated that he had to make more use of the horse in the early stages than had been hoped in order to cross PEACE N PROSPERITY to its inside. He said it was not until near the 800 Metres that he was able to cross that horse. He said FOREVER RED was then able to travel outside the eventual winner LINE SEEKER, however, due to the use made of it in the early stages of the race FOREVER RED came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and then was not able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of FOREVER RED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LINE SEEKER and IMPERIAL CHAMPION were sent for sampling.