21/11/2018  Happy Valley  Race 6

CLEAR CHOICE, which began awkwardly, was crowded for room on jumping between DARING HEART which shifted out and IMPECCABLE FELLOW which began awkwardly. In this incident, DARING HEART became unbalanced after bumping with CLEAR CHOICE on a number of occasions SUPER LUCKY and MAGIC SUCCESS bumped shortly after the start. From the outside barrier, TAI SMART was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. When being ridden along in the early stages, PO CHING TREASURE shifted out and bumped STARLIT KNIGHT. After this, PO CHING TREASURE was ridden along for a short distance before being steadied to obtain cover. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, STARLIT KNIGHT was steadied to obtain cover. Near the 1200 Metres, IMPECCABLE FELLOW was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 1000 Metres, CHIU CHOW KID was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOLD LAND and LITTLE ISLAND was awkwardly placed behind SUPER LUCKY. After being shifted out to improve its position after the 1000 Metres, CLEAR CHOICE was taken wider by STARLIT KNIGHT which also shifted to the outside of IMPECCABLE FELLOW to improve its position after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. After this, CLEAR CHOICE raced wide and without cover. GOLD LAND made the Home Turn awkwardly and became unbalanced. For some distance after the 300 Metres, GOLD LAND raced tight inside ASSOCIATION FANS which lay in under pressure. Then approaching the 100 Metres, GOLD LAND and ASSOCIATION FANS again raced tight due to ASSOCIATION FANS continuing to lay in. Near the 150 Metres, STARLIT KNIGHT shifted in marginally and inconvenienced MAGIC SUCCESS as that horse gave ground. When being corrected by its rider, STARLIT KNIGHT shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of CLEAR CHOICE, causing both horses to become badly unbalanced. In the Straight, TAI SMART shifted out under pressure. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MAGIC SUCCESS, Z Purton stated that as it was felt that tonight’s race lacked speed, it was decided to ride the horse positively in the early stages and hopefully obtain a position behind the speed. He said after crossing SUPER LUCKY to his inside in the early stages, he had hoped that runners drawn wider would improve their position to provide MAGIC SUCCESS with cover, however, when no other horse showed speed, he was required to race outside ASSOCIATION FANS passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said when that horse was steadied by its rider, he then allowed MAGIC SUCCESS to improve into the lead passing the 1300 Metres. He said although it was not intended for MAGIC SUCCESS to lead, nonetheless the horse travelled well in the early and middle stages and when STARLIT KNIGHT improved to the outside of his mount after the 800 Metres, he did not have to make too much use of MAGIC SUCCESS to maintain its position inside that horse. He added MAGIC SUCCESS continued to travel satisfactorily, however, came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and then commenced to give ground passing the 200 Metres. He said after being bumped by STARLIT KNIGHT near the 150 Metres, MAGIC SUCCESS then weakened over the concluding stages. He said based on its most recent start when the horse did not, in his opinion, finish off the race strongly over the concluding stages and the manner in which it raced tonight, he was of the opinion that MAGIC SUCCESS was not able to see out the distance of tonight’s race at this stage of its career. The performance of MAGIC SUCCESS, favourite for tonight’s race and which finished at the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MAGIC SUCCESS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MAGIC SUCCESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of IMPECCABLE FELLOW immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MAGIC SUCCESS, GOLD LAND and CHIU CHOW KID were sent for sampling.