07/03/2018  Happy Valley  Race 3

MIDNITE PROMISE was withdrawn on 6.3.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PROUD SKY (J Moreira). Before being allowed to race again, MIDNITE PROMISE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KING BOUNTIFUL was slow to begin. Approaching the 1800 Metres, JE PENSE shifted out and made contact with the hindquarters of ROCK THE TREE which became unbalanced. When the pace slackened at the 1800 Metres, PROUD SKY shifted out from behind CLOUD NINE, resulting in GARLIC YEAH and AUDACITY being taken out. SMART BABY, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of GARLIC YEAH in consequence. Approaching the turn near the 600 Metres, GARLIC YEAH commenced to lay in and became awkwardly placed inside the heels of PROUD SKY which came under pressure. As PROUD SKY then commenced to give ground, GARLIC YEAH remained awkwardly placed behind that horse and was severely checked at the 450 Metres. After the race, Z Purton stated that although GARLIC YEAH’s finishing effort may have appeared slightly disappointing, he believed the horse had a genuine excuse given the significant interference his mount incurred at the 450 Metres. A veterinary inspection of GARLIC YEAH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. AUDACITY travelled wide and without cover until the 500 Metres. Approaching the 400 Metres, SMART BABY became unbalanced when awkwardly placed behind both PROUD SKY and KING BOUNTIFUL Soon after entering the Straight, HAPPY CONTENDER, which was inclined to lay in when being directed out from behind the tiring PROUD SKY, struck the heels of that horse and became badly unbalanced. When questioned, J Moreira stated that he was instructed to ride PROUD SKY in a prominent position and after assuming the lead soon after the start, he was happy to maintain this position, however, when CLOUD NINE improved to the outside of PROUD SKY near the 1900 Metres, he was then content to maintain the box seat position behind that horse. He said however that near the 1800 Metres the rider of CLOUD NINE steadied the pace and PROUD SKY commenced to race keenly which obliged him to shift out away from the heels of that horse. He added that PROUD SKY then refused to settle, travelled keenly throughout the early and middle stages and came under heavy pressure inside the 600 Metres before compounding badly in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of PROUD SKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that JE PENSE had sustained a cut to the outside of the left hind cannon. A veterinary inspection of CLOUD NINE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GARLIC YEAH, GOOD DAYS and KING BOUNTIFUL were sent for sampling.