11/01/2023  Happy Valley  Race 1

Whilst in the holding stalls, ALL IS GOOD sustained an abrasion above the right eye. ALL IS GOOD was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. COOL BLUE lost its left hind plate on jumping. ACE TALENT shifted out at the start and bumped ALL IS GOOD which in turn shifted out and brushed EAGLE RUN which was positioned tight inside PRIME MORTAR. After this, PRIME MORTAR got its head on the side and hung in when racing tight inside INFINITE POWER (H Bentley) which shifted in. H Bentley was told that whilst the Stewards were of the opinion that the racing manners of PRIME MORTAR had played a significant role in this incident, nonetheless he was reprimanded and told to ensure that he leaves comfortable racing room for his fellow riders in similar circumstances. HOSS began only fairly and then was steadied away from the heels of COOL BLUE which shifted out. OVERSUBSCRIBED shifted out at the start and bumped SIGHT HERO. After this, from wide barriers, OVERSUBSCRIBED and SIGHT HERO were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Also from the outside barrier, SPEEDY FORTUNE was steadied on jumping to obtain a position closer to the rail. Passing the 900 Metres, MIRACLES shifted in abruptly despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in EAGLE RUN losing ground when crowded for room inside MIRACLES. HOSS, which was following EAGLE RUN, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence, shifted out and bumped EXUBERANT. OVERSUBSCRIBED, which was following HOSS, was inconvenienced in consequence. After the 900 Metres, INFINITE POWER got its head on the side and shifted in towards the heels of ACE TALENT, resulting in INFINITE POWER having to be steadied away from the heels of that horse. Passing the 400 Metres, EAGLE RUN was held up for clear running behind ALL IS GOOD. Passing the 50 Metres, HOSS was shifted out away from behind PRIME MORTAR as that horse lay in under pressure in the Straight. When shifted out, HOSS bumped EXUBERANT which also shifted in. INFINITE POWER lay in under pressure in the Straight and close to the finishing line was awkwardly placed inside the heels of PRIME MORTAR. After the race, Z Purton reported that after having to ride his mount along for a considerable distance in the early stages to clear runners to its inside, COOL BLUE, which was having only its second race start tonight, was not suited by the quick tempo of the race in the middle stages. He said, in his opinion, these factors resulted in COOL BLUE having to be ridden along from the 400 Metres and then not finishing the race off over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of COOL BLUE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of COOL BLUE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, COOL BLUE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PRIME MORTAR and ALL IS GOOD were sent for sampling.