21/03/2018  Happy Valley  Race 3

STARLOT and WAH MAY BABY began awkwardly. PLAY IT and LUCKY STORM were slow to begin. From wide barriers, SEE ME NOW and LITTLE ISLAND were steadied shortly after the start and shifted across behind runners. Approaching the 1500 Metres, STARLOT raced tight inside WAH MAY BABY which, when being ridden, got its head on the side and lay in away from CURLING LUXURY. For some distance approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, KIROV raced ungenerously when travelling keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CURLING LUXURY. MAGIC AGILITY travelled wide and without cover until near the 800 Metres. Passing the 500 Metres, SEE ME NOW was shifted out away from the heels of KIROV which got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CURLING LUXURY. After this, SEE ME NOW was awkwardly placed behind KIROV as a result of PLAY IT improving quickly around SEE ME NOW. At the entrance to the Straight, CURLING LUXURY was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of UNIQUE JOYFUL. For some distance passing the 200 Metres, YOURTHEWONFORME raced tight inside STARLOT which lay in under pressure. YOURTHEWONFORME lost its right front plate after the race. When questioned, M Chadwick (UNIQUE JOYFUL) stated that he was asked to try and lead tonight’s race if possible but not to make too much use of the horse do so. He said it was felt that there were a number of horses which had previously shown pace in their races drawn more favourably than UNIQUE JOYFUL and the connections did not want the horse being used up in the early stages and then not being able to finish off the race. He said after beginning only fairly he believed that he would have had to make considerable use of UNIQUE JOYFUL in an attempt to clear PLANET STAR to its inside as that horse was being ridden positively, therefore he elected to obtain cover on UNIQUE JOYFUL and approaching the winning post on the first occasion he felt that there may be an opportunity for UNIQUE JOYFUL to shift in to a position behind KIROV as it appeared as though SEE ME NOW may shift over to the rail. He said when SEE ME NOW continued to race in a one-off position behind KIROV, this resulted in UNIQUE JOYFUL racing in a three wide position with cover. He added approaching the 1200 Metres the tempo slackened which resulted in MAGIC AGILITY, the horse which he was following in a three wide position, and UNIQUE JOYFUL both being able to improve their positons closer to the lead without having to be ridden along. He added making the turn after the 1000 Metres as the tempo of the race continued to be moderate, he elected to shift away from the heels of MAGIC AGILITY as he did not believe that horse would take him into the race and by shifting out would allow UNIQUE JOYFUL the opportunity to improve closer to the lead which had been intended from the start. He said he was able to improve around MAGIC AGILITY without having to make use of UNIQUE JOYFUL and after the 700 Metres shifted in to race outside PLANET STAR in a three wide positon without cover. He said when PLANET STAR improved its position forward of WAH MAY BABY on the rail, he believed that the rider of PLANET STAR would continue on into the lead which would allow UNIQUE JOYFUL to shift in to a two wide position, however, when PLANET STAR was not able to clear WAH MAY BABY, this resulted in UNIQUE JOYFUL remaining in a three wide position without cover outside the lead. A veterinary inspection of KIROV immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. YOURTHEWONFORME, PLANET STAR and PLAY IT were sent for sampling.