11/07/2018  Happy Valley  Race 8

COUNTRY MELODY was withdrawn on 10.7.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter MONEYMORE (J Moreira). Before being allowed to race again, COUNTRY MELODY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BEST STEP began only fairly and shifted out towards the heels of HIGH FIVE. STARLIGHT and DOUBLE VALENTINE bumped at the start. After travelling a short distance, BUOYANT BOY shifted in away from the heels of FANTASTIC FEELING which shifted in. From the outside barrier, FALCON TURBO was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. MONEYMORE got its head on the side and lay out making the first turn near the 1000 Metres and consequently raced very wide until being able to shift across to join the field near the 850 Metres. After MONEYMORE was shifted across behind MY CHANCE passing the 800 Metres to obtain cover, LADY FIRST improved quickly to be racing close to the heels of that horse, resulting in LADY FIRST having to be checked away from the heels of MONEYMORE. DOUBLE VALENTINE, which was following, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LADY FIRST in consequence. Making the turn after the 550 Metres, BEST STEP (C Schofield) became badly unbalanced in its action. C Schofield stated that when this happened he immediately eased BEST STEP down as he believed that that horse had gone amiss. A veterinary inspection of BEST STEP immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of BEST STEP was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BEST STEP will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Making the turn near the 450 Metres, MONEYMORE got its head on the side and then lay out as it weakened rounding the Home Turn. After the 200 Metres, LADY FIRST lay in and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of STARLIGHT which was being shifted out. When questioned, Z Purton stated that he had previously been asked if possible to shift STARLIGHT to the outside of runners to make its finishing run as the horse can sometimes be flat-footed when the field quickens and being to the outside of runners gives the horse the best opportunity to have uninterrupted running so that it is able to use the momentum it builds up. He said with this in mind, he commenced to shift STARLIGHT out near the 150 Metres as there was clear and uninterrupted running to the outside of MY CHANCE. He said as he was shifting STARLIGHT to the outside of MY CHANCE, BUOYANT BOY, which was finishing off the race quickly, shifted in under pressure which resulted in him being unable to direct STARLIGHT to the outside of MY CHANCE. He said he then shifted STARLIGHT back to the inside of MY CHANCE, however, was unable to improve between MY CHANCE and EAGLE due to there being insufficient room. He added whilst there was a run available to the inside of EAGLE and to the outside of FANTASTIC FEELING near the 150 Metres, he was reluctant to improve into that run when it appeared to him that there was more likelihood of clear running remaining available to the outside of MY CHANCE. A veterinary inspection of MONEYMORE and HIGH FIVE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BOUYANT BOY and FANTASTIC FEELING were sent for sampling.