19/05/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

A Hamelin was fined the sum of $5,000 for weighing in 2 lbs overweight on SPLIT OF A SECOND. JUST NOT LISTENING began only fairly and then despite being ridden along shortly after the start failed to muster speed. JUST NOT LISTENING was then steadied a short distance after the start when racing tight between INNO LEGEND and SPLIT OF A SECOND which shifted out after being bumped by EVER JOY. This resulted in JUST NOT LISTENING racing back in the field. SEVENTH SEA began only fairly and then was crowded for room on jumping between DRAGON BABY which shifted out and FLAMING PASSION which, after shifting in, then became unbalanced and shifted in further when being bumped on the hindquarters by SEVENTH SEA. This resulted in SEVENTH SEA losing ground and both DRAGON BABY and FLAMING PASSION becoming unbalanced. From the outside barrier, GOOD SHOT was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. A short distance after the start, ISLAND SHINE was crowded for room between FLAMING PASSION and SIGHT HERO which shifted in. Approaching the 1100 Metres, EVER JOY shifted out and bumped SPLIT OF A SECOND. After the 900 Metres, UNIVERSAL GO GO was awkwardly placed inside the heels of EVER JOY which got its head on the side and lay in despite the efforts of its rider. JUST NOT LISTENING, which was following UNIVERSAL GO GO, was awkwardly placed behind that horse in consequence passing the 850 Metres. JUST NOT LISTENING continued to be very awkwardly placed behind UNIVERSAL GO GO approaching and passing the 800 Metres. After the 700 Metres, INNO LEGEND was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, DRAGON BABY got its head on the side and lay out and for some distance approaching the 400 Metres raced tight inside GOOD SHOT. DRAGON BABY then continued to lay out after the 500 Metres, resulting in DRAGON BABY being very awkwardly placed inside the heels of GOOD SHOT approaching the 450 Metres. DRAGON BABY, which was already very awkwardly placed inside GOOD SHOT, then lost ground when momentarily crowded for room between GOOD SHOT and UNIVERSAL GO GO (J Moreira) which shifted out. When DRAGON BABY lost ground, ISLAND SHINE was severely checked away from the heels of that horse and shifted out abruptly across the running of SEVENTH SEA which was severely checked and lost ground. As the Stewards were of the opinion that the racing manners of DRAGON BABY, which was racing at Happy Valley for the first time, had contributed significantly to this incident, no further action was taken other than J Moreira was reprimanded and advised to exercise due care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ISLAND SHINE had sustained a laceration to the left hind fetlock. Approaching the 250 Metres, SPLIT OF A SECOND momentarily raced in restricted room between FORTUNE CARRIER and INNO LEGEND which shifted in. After this, INNO LEGEND continued to lay in under pressure. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FLAMING PASSION, K Teetan stated that as the track appeared to be favouring horses which were ridden up on speed in the earlier races, it was decided to ride FLAMING PASSION positively from barrier 8 in the early stages and clear runners to its inside. He said it was felt that SIGHT HERO and FORTUNE CARRIER, which had drawn outside FLAMING PASSION, would be ridden to lead and if FLAMING PASSION was able to clear runners to its inside, this would allow the horse the opportunity to obtain cover behind SIGHT HERO or FORTUNE CARRIER. He said after riding his mount positively out of the barriers, a number of runners, which were drawn more favourably than FLAMING PASSION, were ridden to maintain their positions in the early stages which resulted in FLAMING PASSION racing very wide making the turn near the 1000 Metres. He said it was not until near the 900 Metres that FLAMING PASSION was able to clear runners to its inside and because of this the horse travelled too keenly in the middle stages. He said FLAMING PASSION continued to travel keenly until near the 700 Metres at which stage the horse received cover behind SIGHT HERO. He added after obtaining cover behind SIGHT HERO, FLAMING PASSION travelled comfortably and in the early part of the Straight responded well to his riding. He said however that after the 200 Metres FLAMING PASSION came under heavy pressure and then was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. He said, in his opinion, FLAMING PASSION’s weakening over the concluding stages was attributable to the horse doing too much work in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of FLAMING PASSION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of FLAMING PASSION, favourite for tonight’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FLAMING PASSION will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FLAMING PASSION, UNIVERSAL GO GO and FORTUNE CARRIER were sent for sampling.