11/12/2019  Happy Valley  Race 8

CALIFORNIA LEVEE began awkwardly. SPECIAL STARS lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected. GENTLE BREEZE and FRUSTRATED bumped at the start. DRAGON PIONEER was checked on jumping when crowded for room between VICTORIAM which shifted in marginally and HARMONY AND RICH which became badly unbalanced when bumped by UTOPIA LIFE which shifted out. In this incident, HARMONY AND RICH was badly hampered and VICTORIAM became unbalanced and lost ground when taken out by HARMONY AND RICH which continued to shift out away from UTOPIA LIFE. This resulted in HARMONY AND RICH, DRAGON PIONEER and VICTORIAM all being shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 600 Metres, UTOPIA LIFE was left racing wide and without cover outside the lead and was steadied in an attempt to obtain cover behind WINNING METHOD, however, continued to travel wide and without cover throughout. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, THE WEATHERMAN momentarily raced tight inside KASI FARASI which shifted in before being directed back out to relieve the tightening to THE WEATHERMAN. Near the 50 Metres, VICTORIAM and FRUSTRATED bumped. CALIFORNIA LEVEE, which was following FRUSTRATED, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Throughout the race, KASI FARASI travelled wide and without cover. After the race, J Moreira stated that after being able to obtain a midfield position from its inside barrier, SPECIAL STARS travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages, however, after being placed under pressure in the Straight finished off the race only one-paced and, in his opinion, was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of SPECIAL STARS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of UTOPIA LIFE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WINNING METHOD, GENTLE BREEZE and VICTORIAM were sent for sampling.