22/10/2015  Happy Valley  Race 2

BO DUKE shifted in on jumping and bumped OVETT. BALTIC WARRIOR was slow to begin and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From wide barriers, SHARP HUNTER, MAGIC STAR and SGT ROCK were steadied in the early stages to obtain a position with cover. KING'S STEED shifted in at the start and bumped PLANET GIANT. Then a short distance after the start, KING'S STEED got its head up when being steadied to obtain a position with cover. At the 1100 Metres, CHIN CHUN was bumped by KING'S STEED which was in turn taken out by PLANET GIANT. Near the 1000 Metres, MAGIC STAR got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of SEA WARRIOR. BALTIC WARRIOR, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. Passing the 1000 Metres, SHARP HUNTER got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of SEA WARRIOR. Making the turn after the 1000 Metres, CHIN CHUN proved very difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PLANET GIANT. Near the 900 Metres, MAGIC STAR, which was racing keenly, got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of SHARP HUNTER. After this, MAGIC STAR continued to prove difficult to settle. After the 900 Metres, HAYHAY was taken into a position three wide and without cover when OVETT shifted out. Passing the 800 Metres, KING'S STEED got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PLANET GIANT. Near the 450 Metres, MAGIC STAR raced tight between KING'S STEED and SHARP HUNTER which got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of SEA WARRIOR. Passing the 300 Metres, BO DUKE was shifted to the outside of FRUITFUL CHAMPION after being disappointed for running inside that horse. Throughout the race, PLANET GIANT travelled wide and without cover. C Schofield (OVETT) stated that he had been asked to lead from barrier 1. He said OVETT showed good speed in the early stages and was able to maintain a forward position without having to be vigorously ridden along. He said making the first turn after the 1100 Metres FRUITFUL CHAMPION was being hard ridden to his outside and he was mindful not to become engaged in a speed battle with that horse having in mind also that OVETT was carrying top weight. He added for this reason he elected to allow FRUITFUL CHAMPION to cross into the lead and immediately shifted OVETT to the outside of that horse. C Schofield agreed with the Stewards that in retrospect he should have made more of an effort to maintain his position inside FRUITFUL CHAMPION for whilst that horse was going forward, it was not being aggressively ridden at that stage to do so. C Schofield was advised to ensure that, wherever possible, he rides his mounts in accordance with his instructions whilst also retaining the discretion to show judgement and initiative where circumstances require. When questioned, J Moreira stated that he had been asked to ride CHIN CHUN positively in the early stages if the horse began well. He said after CHIN CHUN began with the field, he rode his mount along in the early stages, however, CHIN CHUN was slow to muster speed. He said because of this a number of horses which were better drawn than CHIN CHUN were able to maintain their positions to his inside and for this reason he elected, rather than continue to ride his mount along, to shift it in behind runners and obtain cover so as not to be left racing unnecessarily wide. He added he had to shift CHIN CHUN very wide rounding the Home Turn as inside runs did not present themselves and in the circumstances he was of the view that CHIN CHUN finished off the race satisfactorily. A veterinary inspection of CHIN CHUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of KING'S STEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. OVETT, BO DUKE and SHARP HUNTER were sent for sampling.