03/03/2010  Happy Valley  Race 6

Passing the 2000 Metres, SLEEP WELL got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied to obtain cover behind AMAZING CHOICE. Passing the 900 Metres, MAN IN THE MIRROR was checked away from the heels of ANTIPASTO and shifted out, resulting in DASH AHEAD being hampered and taken wider. When questioned, G Mossé stated that he had been instructed to go forward on FAT DRAGON as usual and to race outside BILLION which was expected, from its good draw, to lead on the fence. He said he rode his mount aggressively out of the barriers to take up a forward position as instructed, however, FAT DRAGON failed to show sufficient speed to cross runners to its inside. He said making the first turn he was very wide due to ANTIPASTO, which was drawn to his inside, being hard ridden to obtain a forward position. He said as FAT DRAGON was wide and as they were negotiating the turn, he did not continue to ride his mount along but rather waited until the Home Turn on the first occasion at which time he allowed the horse to stride forward rather than attempting to find cover behind ANTIPASTO as he had been specifically instructed not to obtain cover on the horse as FAT DRAGON is a free running horse which is best suited by not racing behind other horses. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion he obtained a position three wide outside REAL SPECIAL. He said he then considered riding FAT DRAGON along to see if it could cross that horse, however, he noticed that REAL SPECIAL was racing keenly and he felt that he would have had to make too much use of FAT DRAGON to cross REAL SPECIAL to race outside of BILLION. He said as a result of these circumstances, FAT DRAGON was required to race three wide and without cover. When questioned, J Lloyd (SLEEP WELL) stated that passing the winning post on the first occasion he obtained a position behind HORACE’S LEGEND. He said after being momentarily crowded for room inside LHOJONG passing the 1300 Metres, the tempo of the race quickened a short distance later which meant that a gap developed between HORACE’S LEGEND and SLEEP WELL. He added SLEEP WELL came off the bit and accordingly he was not able to maintain his position to the inside of LHOJONG and behind HORACE’S LEGEND. He said after LHOJONG shifted in to take up the vacant running between HORACE’S LEGEND and SLEEP WELL, SLEEP WELL continued to travel poorly and at the end of the race made an abnormal breathing noise. A veterinary inspection of SLEEP WELL after the race revealed that the horse had a continuous displacement of the soft palate. When questioned, A Gryder (VICTORY MASCOT) stated that the horse travelled well throughout the race, passing the 800 Metres he attempted to follow MAN IN THE MIRROR when that horse improved into the race, however, VICTORY MASCOT was not able to sprint as well as he had hoped to follow that horse. He said whilst VICTORY MASCOT responded somewhat to his riding in the Straight, in his opinion, the horse finished off the race only one-paced. A veterinary inspection of VICTORY MASCOT after the race did not show any significant findings. VICTORY MASCOT, BILLION and EASTERN EMPIRE were sent for sampling.