06/01/2010  Happy Valley  Race 2

WIN WIN, which was difficult to load, and RUGBY HEAVEN, which was fractious in the barriers after being loaded, will both have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test before racing again. RUGBY HEAVEN, TYCOON TAYLOR and TATTENHALL DELIGHT were slow to begin. When being steadied in an attempt to obtain cover passing the 800 Metres, MIGHTY FEELING proved difficult to settle. MIGHTY FEELING was then unable to obtain cover behind HAPPEE GIFT and consequently raced wide and without cover throughout. SECRET OF WINNING shifted out making the turn after the 600 Metres, resulting in HAPPEE GIFT and MIGHTY FEELING being taken wider. After this, HAPPEE GIFT hung out for the remainder of the event. At the entrance to the Straight, JOLLY BIRD was momentarily awkwardly placed between TATTENHALL DELIGHT and RUGBY HEAVEN which shifted out slightly. Also at the entrance to the Straight, TYCOON TAYLOR became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by TATTENHALL DELIGHT. When questioned, H W Lai (COMPACT YARN) stated that he was following HAPPEE GIFT passing the 600 Metres at which time that horse hung out. He said he considered improving on COMPACT YARN to occupy the position three wide vacated by HAPPEE GIFT, however, he was concerned that that horse would be shifted back in by its rider. He said for this reason he elected not to improve inside HAPPEE GIFT but rather looked to come to that horse’s outside. He said rounding the Home Turn he was aware that HAPPEE GIFT was being ridden along by its rider, therefore he tracked HAPPEE GIFT into the race and switched to that horse’s outside shortly after entering the Straight. A veterinary inspection of HAPPEE GIFT after the race did not show any significant findings. SECRET OF WINNING and THUNDER FLASH were sent for sampling.