12/10/2011  Happy Valley  Race 1

SPEED RACER began awkwardly, shifted in and made contact with DESCARTES. After this, SPEED RACER raced tight between DESCARTES and METRO RIDER. ABLE DRAGON and AMAZING VENTURE were slow to begin. Approaching the 1200 Metres, METRO RIDER got its head on the side and hung out. After this, METRO RIDER travelled wide and without cover. In the Straight, GRANDWAY FLYER got its head on the side and lay in. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that G Mossé’s riding out of ABLE DRAGON, 5th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse’s finishing position, he was severely reprimanded for failing to ride ABLE DRAGON out to the end of the race as required. When questioned, M Du Plessis stated that from barrier 11 he had been instructed to ride SONOFTHEWEST quietly tonight. He said it was explained to him that SONOFTHEWEST had not previously finished off its races when ridden forward to overcome wide barriers. He said SONOFTHEWEST had shown itself to be advantaged by being able to be in a forward position in slowly run races. Mr A Schutz, the trainer of SONOFTHEWEST, stated that it raced best for his stable when able to obtain an uncontested lead although on one occasion the horse had raced well when ridden from the back of the field after being slow to begin. He said with a number of speed horses drawn inside SONOFTHEWEST, he did not believe that SONOFTHEWEST would be able to be ridden to overcome its wide barrier and then finish off the race. He said for this reason and having in mind that SONOFTHEWEST had previously raced satisfactorily when ridden from the rear, it was decided to ride SONOFTHEWEST quietly tonight in the hope that it would be able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of TRAVEL PRINCE after the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL PRINCE will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GRANDWAY FLYER, EASY GOLD and MEGA CASTLE were sent for sampling.