13/01/2016  Happy Valley  Race 7

GOLDEN SLEEP was hampered on jumping by CLUB LIFE which began very awkwardly and shifted in abruptly. Shortly after the start, ROYAL PARTNER shifted in and bumped CLUB LIFE. From the outside barrier, LEOWL was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 1300 Metres, SUPEROI was momentarily crowded for room inside TONYBOY which was taken in by RED MARVEL which was racing tight inside ROYAL PARTNER. After the 800 Metres, RED MARVEL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CLUB LIFE. After the 300 Metres, RED MARVEL raced tight between HEROIC GURU and CLUB LIFE which shifted out. Passing the 200 Metres, CLUB LIFE was steadied away from the heels of RED MARVEL (V Cheminaud) which shifted to the inside of SUPEROI to obtain clear running. V Cheminaud was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. At the 100 Metres, GOLDEN SLEEP was shifted out away from the heels of BEAUTY KINGDOM after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. For the majority of the race, ROYAL PARTNER travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. When questioned, S de Sousa (GOLDEN SLEEP) stated that approaching the 700 Metres he was racing to the outside of SUPEROI and became unbalanced after that horse shifted out and bumped GOLDEN SLEEP. He said because GOLDEN SLEEP was unbalanced at this time, he was reluctant to follow SUPEROI forward, rather he preferred to ensure that GOLDEN SLEEP was balanced so that it would be able to take the turn after the 600 Metres. He said whilst it was available to him to follow SUPEROI forward at this time, he felt that GOLDEN SLEEP's best interests were served by having the horse balanced and following HEROIC GURU, the winner of the race, through until straightening. When questioned, N Rawiller stated that he afforded SUPEROI the opportunity to be in a forward position from barrier 1, however, after being urged along in the early stages, SUPEROI was not able to obtain as forward a position as had been hoped. He said making the turn for some distance after the 1300 Metres SUPEROI raced tight inside TONYBOY and therefore he allowed that horse to cross SUPEROI as his mount was not travelling well enough to improve and consolidate its position inside TONYBOY. He said after allowing TONYBOY to cross SUPEROI after the 1100 Metres, SUPEROI proved difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TONYBOY. He said when the tempo of the race was only average after the 900 Metres, SUPEROI commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of TONYBOY and HEROIC GURU. He added he consequently shifted SUPEROI out away from the heels of HEROIC GURU approaching the 700 Metres and allowed SUPEROI to improve its position. He said whilst it was available to him to remain racing behind ROYAL PARTNER in a three wide position after the 600 Metres, having in mind the manner in which SUPEROI had raced in the middle stages, he believed it was best not to break SUPEROI's momentum by restraining the horse to race behind ROYAL PARTNER and he made the decision to continue to improve around ROYAL PARTNER. He said in hindsight he believed it may have been better to remain racing behind ROYAL PARTNER until entering the Straight, however, at the time he was very mindful of the manner in which the horse had over-raced when behind runners and that it had been able to improve its position around ROYAL PARTNER without having to be ridden along to do so. N Rawiller was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that the racing manners of SUPEROI had played a part in the manner in which he had ridden SUPEROI after the 700 Metres, nonetheless, wherever possible, he should ensure that he does not give his mounts too much to do so that they can finish off their races as best as they are able under the circumstances. When questioned, G Benoist stated that he had been asked to obtain a forward position on CLUB LIFE if possible. He said after beginning very awkwardly he then rode his mount along, however, CLUB LIFE got its head up and was awkward in its action. He said as he was not able to cross UNBEATABLE GUTS which was ridden along to the inside of CLUB LIFE, he elected to sit outside that horse, however, approaching the winning post on the first occasion he noticed that both CHARITY KINGDOM and BEAUTY KINGDOM from wide barriers were being ridden along to press for the lead. He said rather than continue to ride CLUB LIFE along, he elected to take a trailing position on CLUB LIFE in the hope that it would be able to finish off the race. He added, as it was explained to him that the horse at its last start had weakened in the Straight after running too freely in the lead, he felt that it was best not to push the horse along to prevent CHARITY KINGDOM and BEAUTY KINGDOM from crossing CLUB LIFE. He said however that when racing behind horses tonight, CLUB LIFE did not settle as well as he had hoped. C Schofield (SPARKLING SWORD) stated that from an inside barrier he rode his mount along to take up a forward position as is usual with the horse, however, he was unable to prevent UNBEATABLE GUTS from crossing SPARKLING SWORD passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said when UNBEATABLE GUTS subsequently handed up the lead to CHARITY KINGDOM, this resulted in SPARKLING SWORD racing further back than had been intended. He said SPARKLING SWORD travelled only fairly in the race and after being placed under pressure in the Straight was disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding. A veterinary inspection of SPARKLING SWORD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ROYAL PARTNER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HEROIC GURU and RED MARVEL were sent for sampling.