09/02/2011  Happy Valley  Race 1

METRO RIDER began awkwardly. BLESS US ALL was crowded for room at the start between BEL CANTO and OUR WISH which shifted in. DASHING ACE was slow to begin. VALUE CHOICE was slow to begin and then despite being vigorously ridden in the early stages failed to muster speed. At the 800 Metres, NEWSWIRE TOO was crowded for room between KING CREOLE which was taken out slightly by METRO RIDER and SEIZE THE DAY (Z Purton) which shifted in. BLESS US ALL, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of NEWSWIRE TOO as a consequence. Z Purton was advised to ensure that he makes every effort to keep his mounts on a straight course in future. Throughout the race, SIMPLY JOY travelled wide and without cover. D Whyte stated that he had been instructed to ride MAGIC KING quietly as the connections had been disappointed with the manner in which MAGIC KING had failed to finish off its races when ridden in forward positions. He said due to his instructions, he took hold of MAGIC KING shortly after the start even though the horse began well. He added that making the first turn MAGIC KING got its head up and proved difficult to settle and near the 550 Metres was checked when crowded for room between VALUE CHOICE and NEWSWIRE TOO which shifted out. He said at the entrance to the Straight he had intended to shift to the outside of NEWSWIRE TOO to improve into a run between that horse and OUR WISH, however, had to be steadied when disappointed for this run. He added that near the 200 Metres he was obliged to shift MAGIC KING to the inside of NICE KING, however, near the 100 Metres was obliged to shift to the outside of that horse when disappointed for running between DASHING ACE and NICE KING which lay in. He said after attempting to obtain a run to the outside of NICE KING, MAGIC KING was held up for clear running behind that horse and inside KING CREOLE and because of this he was not able to ride MAGIC KING out to the end of the race. Trainer P O`Sullivan confirmed that he had instructed Jockey Whyte to ride MAGIC KING quietly. He said since the horse entered his stable, it has often over-raced when ridden along to take up forward positions and because of this has not been able to close off its races. He said two starts ago the horse was slow to begin and finished off the race strongly. He said that after speaking with the owners of MAGIC KING prior to tonight`s race, it had been decided to ride the horse quietly to see if it would be able to finish off the race in a similar manner. He added that although MAGIC KING had difficulty obtaining clear running in tonight`s race, he was satisfied with the manner in which it worked to the line and it is his intention, at this time, to have it ridden in a similar manner in the near future if possible. A veterinary inspection of VALUE CHOICE and SIMPLY JOY after the race did not show any significant findings. METRO RIDER and BLESS US ALL were sent for sampling.