24/10/2018  Happy Valley  Race 4

SURE SUPREME and FOREVER KINDNESS bumped at the start. SURE SUPREME then shifted in and bumped THE SHOW which became unbalanced. THE CHAMP began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped PADDINGTON which in turn was taken out onto SHOW MISSION. After this, despite being ridden along, SHOW MISSION was slow to muster speed. From a wide barrier, OTOUTO was ridden positively in the early stages to obtain a forward position, however, throughout the race, despite being continuously ridden along, failed to muster speed and travelled wide and without cover. Near the 1150 Metres, THE CHAMP was hampered when steadied away from the heels of FOREVER KINDNESS (C Schofield) which, when being ridden along, shifted out. C Schofield was severely reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he must be more attentive to his mounts shifting ground than he was on this occasion. Passing the 500 Metres, STARLOT raced tight inside THE CHAMP which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SHOW MISSION. At the entrance to the Straight, SHOW MISSION was directed out away from the heels of OTOUTO to obtain clear running. Approaching the 200 Metres, FOREVER KINDNESS momentarily raced in restricted room between THE CHAMP and OTOUTO which shifted in when giving ground. Throughout the race, FOREVER KINDNESS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he was asked to ride STARLOT in about a midfield position if possible. He said after being loaded into the barriers STARLOT was fractious and then began only fairly, therefore he elected to shift the horse across behind runners with the intention of improving his position closer to the rail. He said however as he did this, SURE SUPREME was shifted in and because of this he was not able to improve his position as he hoped and consequently raced further back in the field than had been anticipated. A veterinary inspection of STARLOT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon stated that he was asked to ride PADDINGTON in a similar manner to its most recent start when the horse finished off satisfactorily when ridden in about a midfield position. He said from a slightly wider barrier tonight PADDINGTON was hampered shortly after the start when THE CHAMP sustained interference. He said after this THE CHAMP was ridden along to improve its position and because of this he was left racing in a three wide position outside that horse. He said rather than continuing to race three wide, he elected to steady PADDINGTON and obtain a trailing position behind THE CHAMP which resulted in PADDINGTON racing slightly further back in the field than had been hoped. A veterinary inspection of SHOW MISSION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TRENDIFUL and RAICHU were sent for sampling.