29/11/2017  Happy Valley  Race 6

SMART DECLARATION was withdrawn on 28.11.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FANTASTIC FEELING (K Teetan). Before being allowed to race again, SMART DECLARATION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded into the barriers, HARBOUR ALERT became fractious and momentarily got its head down under the front gates. HARBOUR ALERT was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse had sustained mild abrasions over an eye, however, was suitable to race. Having regard to HARBOUR ALERT’s previous history, the Stewards ruled that that horse must barrier trial satisfactorily prior to being permitted to race again. FUN MACHINE began only fairly. SHALLUCK shifted out at the start and bumped FANTASTIC FEELING. Soon after the start, G-ONE LOVER got its head on the side and shifted in when being ridden along, resulting in FANTASTIC FEELING being crowded for room in onto SHALLUCK which in turn was taken in onto CHUNG WAH SPIRIT. From the outside barriers, TRIUMPHANT JEWEL and FLYING TOURBILLON were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, SHALLUCK got its head up when awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHUNG WAH SPIRIT when racing tight inside FANTASTIC FEELING which shifted in away from HARBOUR ALERT. Approaching the 1000 Metres, THOR THE GREATEST went amiss in its left front leg and was retired from the race. After the 1000 Metres, FANTASTIC FEELING proved very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CHUNG WAH SPIRIT which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PERPETUAL JOYANCE. Near the 850 Metres, CHUNG WAH SPIRIT was steadied away from the heels of MASTER ALBERT (J Moreira) which shifted in when not quite clear. J Moreira was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. After the 800 Metres, G-ONE LOVER commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of ALL GREAT FRIENDS for some distance. When questioned regarding his riding of FUN MACHINE particularly in the Home Straight, D Whyte stated that he was asked to make use of the horse’s inside barrier and position it as close as possible without having to ride it too aggressively. He said FUN MACHINE was able to take up a forward position without having to be ridden along in the early stages and was able to follow G-ONE LOVER which at this time was racing close to the heels of ALL GREAT FRIENDS along the Back Straight. He said passing the 500 Metres he considered shifting to the outside of G-ONE LOVER, however, PERPETUAL JOYANCE was ridden along to the outside FUN MACHINE to maintain its position one horse off the rail. He said he therefore elected to continue to improve along the rail and after the 400 Metres was able to improve its position to be racing inside G-ONE LOVER. He said shortly after entering the Straight when it was apparent that there was not a run available between HARBOUR ALERT and ALL GREAT FRIENDS, he directed FUN MACHINE to the outside of HARBOUR ALERT, however, that horse did not improve as he anticipated it would which resulted in FUN MACHINE being very awkwardly placed close to the heels of HARBOUR ALERT. He said as FUN MACHINE was just over a length behind HARBOUR ALERT at this time and was galloping close to the heels of that horse, he believed that it was not available for him to continue shifting out due to the probability of FUN MACHINE striking the heels of HARBOUR ALERT. He said as this happened the run between HARBOUR ALERT and G-ONE LOVER, which was a run he was initially aiming for, became available therefore he shifted FUN MACHINE inwards away from the heels of HARBOUR ALERT to continue improving. He said however FUN MACHINE became held up for clear running after the 200 Metres when unable to improve between HARBOUR ALERT and ALL GREAT FRIENDS due to HARBOUR ALERT shifting in marginally. He said HARBOUR ALERT then shifted out near the 100 Metres which provided FUN MACHINE the opportunity to improve between that horse and ALL GREAT FRIENDS. He said after this FUN MACHINE then finished off the race satisfactorily. Trainer D J Hall confirmed the instructions given to D Whyte and stated that he was satisfied with the manner in which D Whyte had ridden the horse in the early and middle stages. He said after viewing the videos, he accepted Jockey Whyte’s decision to shift back to the inside of HARBOUR ALERT as it was apparent that FUN MACHINE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. He said he also noted that at the time that FUN MACHINE was directed back to the inside of HARBOUR ALERT, a run existed to the inside of that horse albeit that there was more room available to the outside of HARBOUR ALERT than to the inside of that horse. After considering all the circumstances and after viewing the videos, the Stewards accepted that Jockey Whyte had ridden FUN MACHINE to instructions and that it was his initial intention to shift to the outside of HARBOUR ALERT. The Stewards also accepted that when being directed to the outside of HARBOUR ALERT, FUN MACHINE became awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. D Whyte was further advised that in respect of his decision to have FUN MACHINE shift back to the inside of HARBOUR ALERT rather than continuing to have the horse obtain clear running to the outside of that horse, the Stewards could not be satisfied to the requisite degree that his riding of FUN MACHINE at this point of the race constituted a breach of the Rules. D Whyte was however advised to ensure that, wherever possible, to obtain clear and uninterrupted running to ensure that his riding is not open to query. Mr Hall was advised that the Stewards accepted his evidence which would be reported. A veterinary inspection of FUN MACHINE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CHUNG WAH SPIRIT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MASTER ALBERT, PERPETUAL JOYANCE and G-ONE LOVER were sent for sampling. Samples were also taken from THOR THE GREATEST.