14/12/2016  Happy Valley  Race 5

VICTORY FOLLOW ME shifted in at the start and bumped LIGHTNING AND GOLD. TRAVEL AMBASSADOR and HELEN’S CHOICE bumped at the start. Shortly after the start, SWEET HOME, when being steadied to shift across behind runners, got its head up and shifted out abruptly. From a wide barrier, AGIAAL was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. LIGHTNING AND GOLD lost its right front plate passing the winning post on the first occasion. Despite being hard ridden in the early stages, GLORY STAR failed to muster speed and then after the 1200 Metres was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 1300 Metres, SWEET HOME commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed behind HELEN’S CHOICE. Then near the 1150 Metres, SWEET HOME, which continued to prove difficult to settle, was checked away from the heels of HELEN’S CHOICE which shifted out abruptly. For a considerable distance after the 500 Metres, WISKY (C Y Ho) was taken back through the field by HAPPY BEAUTY which came under pressure. Then rounding the Home Turn, WISKY shifted out away from the heels of HAPPY BEAUTY, resulting in VICTORY FOLLOW ME being crowded for room inside GLORY STAR. C Y Ho was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. AGIAAL, which was following VICTORY FOLLOW ME, shifted in away from the heels of that horse in consequence, resulting in SWEET HOME, which was being shifted out towards the heels of AGIAAL, being checked away from the heels of that horse. In the early part of the Straight, LIGHTNING AND GOLD lay in under pressure. Approaching the 200 Metres, VICTORY FOLLOW ME was crowded for room between GLORY STAR and WISKY, which when attempting to improve to the outside of the heels of SPINNING DANCER, was taken out before being steadied when disappointed for running outside SPINNING DANCER. In this incident, GLORY STAR became unbalanced after being bumped by VICTORY FOLLOW ME. In the circumstances, no further action was taken. When GLORY STAR became unbalanced, that horse shifted out, resulting in LIGHTNING AND GOLD being taken wider. A veterinary inspection of SWEET HOME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TRAVEL AMBASSADOR and WISKY were sent for sampling.