29/04/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

COOLCELEB shifted out at the start and hampered LUCKY MISSILE. DOUBLE TAKE was crowded for room on jumping between SUPER ALLIANCES and RESOLUTE which shifted in. From the outside barriers, AMBITIOUS HEART and SIMPLY FLUKE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1150 Metres, MANAGEMENT SUPREME shifted out and brushed WHO’S HORSE. Approaching the 1000 Metres, COOLCELEB and FIRST RESPONDER raced tight. COOLCELEB then shifted in passing the 1000 Metres and bumped WHO’S HORSE, causing both those horses to become badly unbalanced and for COOLCELEB to shift out and bump FIRST RESPONDER on the hindquarters, causing that horse to also become unbalanced. After the 1000 Metres, ATHENA commenced to travel keenly, lay out and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of WHO’S HORSE. When racing very wide, COLONEL was steadied for some distance after the 1000 Metres to obtain cover. RESOLUTE and FIRST RESPONDER travelled wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres. A Hamelin (AMBITIOUS HEART) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 250 Metres he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from shifting in when not clear of SUPER ALLIANCES, resulting in that horse being taken in onto COLONEL and causing both SUPER ALLIANCES and COLONEL to be badly checked and to lose the running to which they were rightfully entitled. When COLONEL was severely checked, DOUBLE TAKE, which was following, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. A Hamelin was suspended from riding in races for the racemeeting to be conducted at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 20 May 2020. As such, A Hamelin is eligible to resume race riding on Thursday, 21 May 2020. In addition, Jockey Hamelin was fined $30,000. Although COLONEL finished tailed out, the Stewards were cognizant of the severe interference that the horse sustained at the 250 Metres after which COLONEL was eased down by its rider. Therefore no further action was taken. A veterinary inspection of COLONEL immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. After the race, B Shinn stated that although he had to make some use of FIRST RESPONDER in the early stages to obtain a forward position, the horse was able to relax in the middle stages and, in his opinion, was entitled to finish off the race better than it did. He said FIRST RESPONDER came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and did not quicken after the 200 Metres and gave ground. A veterinary inspection of FIRST RESPONDER and WHO’S HORSE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SUPER ALLIANCES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. A veterinary inspection of COOLCELEB immediately following the race found that horse to be a "”roarer” which had previously been reported. SIMPLY FLUKE and MANAGEMENT SUPREME were sent for sampling.