25/05/2011  Happy Valley  Race 8

NORMAN INVADER was difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, NORMAN INVADER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Shortly after the start, NORMAN INVADER raced in restricted room between FLASHING AURA and LONDON CHINA TOWN, both of which shifted ground, resulting in NORMAN INVADER being steadied away from the heels of FLASHING AURA near the 1100 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, LONDON CHINA TOWN and HAPPY REUNION bumped. After this, HAPPY REUNION got its head on the side, hung in and proved difficult to ride. Throughout the race, CHARITY SPIRIT travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, T Angland stated that from barrier 10 he had been instructed to have FLYING COLOURS position in midfield as it was felt that tonight’s race would be run at a fast tempo. He said it was felt that FLYING COLOURS did not have sufficient speed to clear runners to his inside and that were FLYING COLOURS to be ridden in a forward position as is usual, the horse would be left racing wide and without cover. He said shortly after the start he allowed HAPPY REUNION to go forward of his mount and commenced to shift FLYING COLOURS across closer to the fence. He added near the 1100 Metres FLYING COLOURS got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of ABLE SPEED and lost ground as a consequence. He said after this FLYING COLOURS came off the bit and he had to ride the horse along in an attempt to make up lost ground. He said because of the circumstances of the race in the early stages, FLYING COLOURS travelled further back in the field than has been intended. T Angland was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, in future wherever possible he should make every effort to ride his mounts in accordance with his instructions. When questioned, B Doyle stated that he had been instructed to ride ELITE SIXTY-SIX in 4th or 5th position if possible, however, he was not to make use of the horse to have it obtain this position. He said after being loaded ELITE SIXTY-SIX became very fractious, reared on a number of occasions and made contact with the front gates. He said ELITE SIXTY-SIX then began only fairly and shortly after the start he elected to shift across behind NORMAN INVADER rather than ride his mount aggressively to obtain a more forward position which, in his view, would have resulted in ELITE SIXTY-SIX racing wide. He added that after the 1000 Metres ELITE SIXTY-SIX came off the bridle and he was obliged to ride that horse along for the remainder of the event in an endeavour to have it keep up with the field. He said it was not until the final 200 Metres that ELITE SIXTY-SIX became balanced in its action, however, after this finished off the race only fairly. B Doyle was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had been too premature on this occasion in shifting across behind runners and he was further advised that he would be expected to make more of an effort than he did on this occasion to ride his mounts in accordance with his instructions. A veterinary inspection of ELITE SIXTY-SIX after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of FLASHING AURA after the race did not show any significant findings. GOOD WORDS and HAPPY REUNION were sent for sampling.