14/02/2018  Happy Valley  Race 6

TELECOM BROTHERS was withdrawn on 13.2.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BLOCKER DEE (Z Purton). Before being allowed to race again, TELECOM BROTHERS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GENERAL IRON began awkwardly and lost ground. DOUBLE VALENTINE shifted in at the start and inconvenienced COUNTRY MELODY. A short distance after the start, COUNTRY MELODY was steadied away from the heels of MONEY BOY which was taken out by DIAMOND MASTER. Shortly after the start, MOMENT OF POWER and STORM SIGNAL raced tight. Passing the 800 Metres, DOUBLE VALENTINE was shifted out away from the heels of MONEY BOY which was bumped and taken out by DIAMOND MASTER which was racing tight outside E-SUPER. At the entrance to the Straight, STORM SIGNAL was awkwardly placed inside the heels of OCEAN ROAR. STORM SIGNAL then had some difficulty obtaining clear running for a short distance after this. Passing the 200 Metres, DIAMOND MASTER was shifted to the outside of E-SUPER to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, MR RIGHT and MYTHICAL EMPEROR travelled wide and without cover. Apprentice H N Wong (MOMENT OF POWER) was spoken to about raising his whip arm above the height of his shoulder. When questioned, S Clipperton (GENERAL IRON) stated that near the 250 Metres he directed his horse to the outside of E-SUPER in an attempt to improve between that horse and MR RIGHT. He said when he did this GENERAL IRON got its head on the side, lay in and was reluctant to shift to the outside of E-SUPER. He said he continued to ride GENERAL IRON along in an attempt to improve into this position, however, GENERAL IRON would not quicken into the run due to laying in and this allowed DIAMOND MASTER the opportunity to shift out on its inside and improve into the run that he was attempting to obtain. He said he therefore continued shifting to the outside of MR RIGHT, however, GENERAL IRON continued to prove reluctant to shift to the outside and lay in. He added it was not until approaching the 50 Metres that he was able to shift to the outside of MR RIGHT and because of this he was not able to properly test GENERAL IRON in the Straight. E-SUPER, MOMENT OF POWER and BLOCKER DEE were sent for sampling.