27/06/2018  Happy Valley  Race 4

At declaration time, C Schofield was declared as the rider of both FOREVER POSH and NEVER BETTER. It was established that C Schofield had a firm commitment to ride NEVER BETTER. As such, the Stewards permitted M Chadwick to be substituted as the rider of FOREVER POSH. For this declaration error, Trainer R Gibson was fined $2,000. As the start was effected, WIN FOR CHARITY got its head up and consequently was slow to begin. From wide barriers, ASSOCIATION FANS and NEVER BETTER were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Despite being hard ridden in the early stages, GLORY STAR failed to muster speed. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, WIN FOR CHARITY raced tight inside FOREVER POSH after improving quickly to the inside of that horse. Then passing the winning post on the first occasion, CHARITY WINGS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of FOREVER POSH which shifted out to relieve the tightening to WIN FOR CHARITY. After the 500 Metres, FOREVER POSH got its head on the side and lay out. CHARITY WINGS, which was improving to the outside of FOREVER POSH, was inconvenienced in consequence. Near the 250 Metres, GOLDEN SLEEP was momentarily awkwardly placed between GLORY STAR and FOREVER POSH which shifted in under pressure. When questioned, U Rispoli stated that he was asked to obtain a position in about midfield on GOLDEN SLEEP with cover if possible. He said with the blinkers removed, GOLDEN SLEEP was reluctant to improve its position in the early stages despite being niggled at in an attempt to clear horses to his inside. He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion he steadied his mount in an attempt to obtain cover behind CHARITY WINGS, however, at this time ASSOCIATION FANS improved to be racing between GOLDEN SLEEP and GLORY STAR which resulted in GOLDEN SLEEP racing in a three wide position. He said he rode his mount along after the 1400 Metres in an endeavour to clear ASSOCIATION FANS, however, he was not able to shift in to race behind CHARITY WINGS and because of this GOLDEN SLEEP was initially left racing in a three wide position outside that horse. He added when ASSOCIATION FANS shifted across to race on the rail behind GLORY STAR, this afforded GOLDEN SLEEP the opportunity to obtain cover behind CHARITY WINGS, however, much further back in the field than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of GENERAL DINO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ASSOCIATION FANS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. GENERAL DINO, MEGATRON and SICHUAN BOSS were sent for sampling.