19/04/2009  Happy Valley  Race 10

CLASSIC REUNION was slow into stride. Near the 1700 Metres, BEST POWER was steadied when crowded for room between LASKER and FLORAL NIRVANA. In the early stages, BEST POWER proved difficult to settle. In the early and middle stages, LASKER travelled wide and without cover, then after entering the Back Straight was allowed to stride forward. In the middle stages, AMAZING JOURNEY proved difficult to settle and approaching the 800 Metres shifted in and bumped WARM EMBRACES. At the 150 Metres, AMAZING JOURNEY shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of GREAT HERO, causing that horse to be turned out. As a consequence, AMAZING JOURNEY was steadied away from the heels of GREAT HERO. K L Chui (FLORAL NIRVANA) said he had been instructed to ride his mount in 3rd or 4th position if possible. He said he rode along to go forward in the early stages and commenced to shift across with PRIME TARGET as that horse crossed to the lead. He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion riders to his inside called on several occasions, he therefore looked to his inside and noticed CLASSIC REUNION improving its position. He said he then rode along for a short distance in an attempt to clear that runner, however, he was not able to do so and therefore after passing the winning post on the first occasion he elected to stop riding his mount along and travelled in a three wide position without cover. He said in his opinion he would have been required to make too much use of FLORAL NIRVANA in the early stages to avoid racing in a three wide position. He said in the Straight FLORAL NIRVANA gave ground and in his opinion this was due to the amount of use he had made of the horse in the early stages of the race. BEST POWER and AMAZING JOURNEY were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of BEST POWER and AMAZING JOURNEY after the race did not show any significant findings. CLASSIC REUNION, PRIME TARGET and GREAT HERO were sent for sampling.