17/01/2018  Happy Valley  Race 4

PERFECT CHOICE began only fairly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between CHARITY WINGS which became unbalanced after bumping with THE JUDGE and XIANG HUANG QI. From wide barriers, PLANET STAR, ART OF RAW and HAPPY WARRIOR were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. ART OF RAW lost its left hind plate approaching the winning post on the first occasion. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, CHARITY WINGS was momentarily awkwardly placed between XIANG HUANG QI and CURLING LUXURY, both of which shifted ground. GLORY STAR, which was racing outside CHARITY WINGS, was inconvenienced in consequence. Passing the 1300 Metres, PERFECT CHOICE commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of XIANG HUANG QI for some distance. Making the turn after the 1000 Metres, PERFECT CHOICE, which continued to travel keenly, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of XIANG HUANG QI. Then near the 900 Metres, PERFECT CHOICE was checked away from the heels of XIANG HUANG QI which was awkwardly placed behind SUNSHINE UNIVERSE. After this, PERFECT CHOICE continued to travel keenly and near the 750 Metres again got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CHARITY WINGS. Rounding the Home Turn, PERFECT CHOICE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of XIANG HUANG QI and after being shifted to the outside of that horse then got its head on the side and hung in in the early part of the Straight. PERFECT CHOICE continued to lay in and proved difficult to ride in the Straight. Passing the 300 Metres, ART OF RAW raced very tight inside XIANG HUANG QI when improving into tight running inside that horse. XIANG HUANG QI was then shifted out abruptly approaching the 250 Metres to relieve the crowding to ART OF RAW. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he was asked to ride GLORY STAR in a forward position. He said it was felt that there was good speed in the race and therefore if he was unable to lead, he would be able to obtain a position behind the leaders with cover. He said, despite being hard ridden in the early stages, GLORY STAR did not show early speed and because of this settled further back in the field in the early stages than had been anticipated. He said near the 1200 Metres GLORY STAR was left racing wide and without cover and when the tempo of the race slowed, he believed that there was an opportunity to improve his position to race outside the lead. He said therefore he gradually allowed his mount to improve its position after the 1200 Metres as he had already made considerable use of GLORY STAR in the early stages and therefore did not want to ride it along to go forward. He added GLORY STAR was progressing well after the 1100 Metres, however, approaching the 1000 Metres CURLING LUXURY, which had been racing behind SICHUAN BOSS, commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out away from the heels of that horse despite the efforts of its rider to remain racing behind SICHUAN BOSS. He said this resulted in GLORY STAR racing in a four wide position until near the 800 Metres at which stage the horse was able to resume a three wide position, however, throughout this period continued to race wide and without cover. M Chadwick stated that whilst it was available for him to ride his mount aggressively approaching the 1100 Metres to improve its position, he was reluctant to do this given that he had been required to ride the horse along from the start until near the winning post on the first occasion in an attempt to comply with his instructions. A veterinary inspection of GLORY STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. A veterinary inspection of SICHUAN BOSS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUNSHINE UNIVERSE, DON’T MISS and THE JUDGE were sent for sampling.