08/11/2020  Happy Valley  Race 3

After being loaded into the barriers, LORIZ became fractious and lunged at the front gates, resulting in the gates opening. LORIZ was pulled up after travelling a very short distance and returned to the barriers at which time the horse was examined by the Veterinary Officer and found to be suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, LORIZ will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. DESTINE JEWELLERY and COURAGEOUS DRAGON began only fairly. GALLANT CROWN shifted out at the start and bumped WOOD ON FIRE. Then from the outside barriers, GALLANT CROWN and WOOD ON FIRE were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Despite being ridden along for some distance in the early stages, FANTASTIC FABIO was slow to muster speed and subsequently travelled wide and without cover throughout the race. When being steadied to obtain cover passing the 1000 Metres, HONEST WAY travelled keenly. Near the 450 Metres, HONEST WAY momentarily raced in restricted room inside LORIZ which was racing tight inside FANTASTIC FABIO. Approaching and passing the 400 Metres, WOOD ON FIRE was awkwardly placed behind DESTINE JEWELLERY. WOOD ON FIRE was then badly held up for clear running from after the 300 Metres until near the 75 Metres. When WOOD ON FIRE was shifted to the inside of FANTASTIC FABIO to obtain clear running near the 75 Metres, LORIZ was inconvenienced. For some distance after the 250 Metres, GOOD SHOT and MY ECSTATIC raced tight as GOOD SHOT improved into tight running between MY ECSTATIC and FANTASTIC FABIO. Then near the 150 Metres, MY ECSTATIC was steadied when crowded for room between GOOD SHOT which continued to improve into tight running and SHINING ON which shifted in. GALLANT CROWN was brushed and shifted out away from the heels of MY ECSTATIC in consequence. Close to the finishing line, HONEST WAY shifted out under pressure and raced tight inside WOOD ON FIRE. Passing the winning post, GOOD SHOT raced in restricted room between FANTASTIC FABIO and SHINING ON which lay in under pressure. After the race, Z Purton stated that MY ECSTATIC, which was having its first race start, would be better suited by a step-up in distance. He said passing the 800 Metres MY ECSTATIC became unbalanced after commencing to race keenly and having to be checked away from the heels of LORIZ. He said in the early part of the Straight MY ECSTATIC was finishing off the race fairly, however, after racing tight outside GOOD SHOT then gave ground close to the finishing line. A veterinary inspection of MY ECSTATIC immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, MY ECSTATIC will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of LORIZ and DAY DAY RICH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MY ECSTATIC, SHINING ON and WOOD ON FIRE were sent for sampling.