13/12/2017  Happy Valley  Race 4

THE JOY OF GIVING was slow to begin. GREAT JOY and TELECOM SUN bumped at the start. GREAT JOY then shifted in and bumped AEROLUMINANCE which in turn shifted in and raced tight outside GENTRY. GENTRY lost its left front plate at the start. From the outside barrier, CROWN AVENUE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, THE JOY OF GIVING raced in restricted room inside GREAT JOY which lay in when racing tight inside AEROLUMINANCE. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, SPEEDY WALLY commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of MIDNITE PROMISE. After this, SPEEDY WALLY continued to prove difficult to settle for some distance. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, TELECOM SUN was left racing wide and without cover and was then allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead near the 1300 Metres at which time BO DUKE was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching and passing the 1100 Metres, SPEEDY WALLY again commenced to race ungenerously and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of MIDNITE PROMISE. SPEEDY WALLY then shifted out from behind that horse, resulting in CROWN AVENUE being taken wider. At the 900 Metres, MIDNITE PROMISE was hampered when unable to improve between GENTRY and CROWN AVENUE where there was not sufficient room. TELECOM SUN commenced to give ground from the 750 Metres, resulting in GENTRY being momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of TELECOM SUN. Approaching the 600 Metres, when giving ground, TELECOM SUN got its head up and crowded SAVANNAH WIND. TELECOM SUN continued to lose ground and after the 600 Metres lay in towards the heels of SAVANNAH WIND, resulting in AMAZING GOLD being checked. Passing the 600 Metres, GREAT JOY and AEROLUMINANCE raced tight as both horses attempted to improve inside SPEEDY WALLY to avoid the tiring TELECOM SUN. GREAT JOY was checked near the 550 Metres when unable to avoid TELECOM SUN which continued to give ground abruptly. TELECOM SUN then finished tailed out. A veterinary inspection of TELECOM SUN immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Having regard to TELECOM SUN’s racing record and the degree of interference it caused in this race, the Stewards ruled that the horse will be required to perform satisfactorily in a series of consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being permitted to race again. Approaching the 500 Metres, THE JOY OF GIVING was shifted out away from the heels of TELECOM SUN. Passing the 250 Metres, GENTRY was shifted in away from the heels of MIDNITE PROMISE which shifted in under pressure. Passing the 200 Metres, SAVANNAH WIND was directed out away from BO DUKE which was giving ground. A veterinary inspection of SPEEDY WALLY and, SAVANNAH WIND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MIDNITE PROMISE, CROWN AVENUE and HIGH VOLATILITY were sent for sampling.