15/01/2020  Happy Valley  Race 3

On entering the track, LOOK ERAS became fractious, resulting in its rider, Apprentice K H Chan, being dislodged without incident. On arrival at the Start, LOOK ERAS was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said that the horse was suitable to race. GALAXY EMPEROR began awkwardly, shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of GOUTEN OF GARO. PRECIOUS SWEETIE lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began only fairly. After this, despite being ridden along, PRECIOUS SWEETIE failed to muster speed. LOOK ERAS shifted out at the start and bumped GUNNAR. From wide barriers, EVERBRAVE, MEGA RED and WINNING WAYS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 700 Metres, GUNNAR was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 650 Metres, PRECIOUS SWEETIE got its head on the side and shifted in away from EVERBRAVE which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of OVERSUBSCRIBED, resulting in PRECIOUS SWEETIE being awkwardly placed outside the heels of GALAXY EMPEROR. Near the 450 Metres, WINNING WAYS raced tight outside OVERSUBSCRIBED which shifted out. GALAXY EMPEROR was held up for clear running from near the 250 Metres until after the 200 Metres at which time the horse was shifted to the outside of FIRE BALL and GOUTEN OF GARO. Then near the 100 Metres, GALAXY EMPEROR again had difficulty obtaining clear running when awkwardly placed behind WE THE SOUTH. GALAXY EMPEROR was then shifted to the inside of WE THE SOUTH and over the concluding stages raced tight inside that horse. Because of these factors, GALAXY EMPEROR was not able to be tested. Passing the 200 Metres, PRECIOUS SWEETIE raced in restricted room when improving into tight running between GUNNAR and OVERSUBSCRIBED. Close to the finishing line, WINNING WAYS shifted in and brushed OVERSUBSCRIBED. When questioned regarding the performance of FIRE BALL, J Moreira stated that he was instructed to lead if possible, however, if the riders of other runners were intent on leading, he should take a trailing position behind those horses. He said he rode his mount along in the early stages and was able to obtain a position outside GOUTEN OF GARO. He said after crossing GOUTEN OF GARO approaching the 800 Metres, LOOK ERAS and HAPPY GOOD GUYS were being hard ridden to his outside and he believed that he would have had to ride FIRE BALL along for some distance to prevent those horses from crossing FIRE BALL. He said as it was explained to him that it was acceptable to obtain a trailing position, he felt that it was in the best interests of FIRE BALL to obtain a trailing position behind LOOK ERAS rather than continue to ride his mount along and then not be able to finish off the race. He said making the turn after the 600 Metres FIRE BALL lay out towards the heels of HAPPY GOOD GUYS. He said after being awkwardly placed behind LOOK ERAS after the 400 Metres, he shifted FIRE BALL to the inside of that horse at the entrance to the Straight with a view to obtaining a run inside LOOK ERAS, however, prior to being able to establish this position, that horse shifted in, requiring him to direct FIRE BALL to the outside of LOOK ERAS passing the 200 Metres. He added FIRE BALL did not immediately respond to his riding, however, over the concluding stages stayed on satisfactorily. He said he formed the view that FIRE BALL’s disappointing performance could be attributed to its immaturity as the horse was only having its first race start this evening. A veterinary inspection of FIRE BALL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of EVERBRAVE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of LOOK ERAS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. FIRE BALL, HAPPY GOOD GUYS and WINNING WAYS were sent for sampling.