02/12/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

LITTLE PLAYER began awkwardly and then was bumped by LITTLE THUNDER which shifted out. ORIENTAL AMIGO was crowded for room on jumping between CHAMP PATROL and AMAZING KNIGHT which shifted in. SHINING ON began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was awkwardly placed outside the heels of PEGASUS GLORY. Then, from a wide barrier, SHINING ON was shifted across behind runners. SPEED TO EXCEED shifted in at the start and made contact with PHENOMENAL COMBO. SPEED TO EXCEED was then steadied when bumped by PHENOMENAL COMBO which shifted out. Passing the 1150 Metres, SMART WONGCHOY shifted in and bumped PEGASUS GLORY. Near the 850 Metres, LITTLE PLAYER, which was travelling keenly, was steadied away from the heels of HAPPY TIME (B Shinn) which shifted in when not properly clear. B Shinn was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground. For some distance passing the 700 Metres, PHENOMENAL COMBO was awkwardly placed behind LITTLE PLAYER. PEGASUS GLORY travelled wide and without cover until approaching the 600 Metres at which time the horse shifted in to race outside the lead, resulting in SMART WONGCHOY being left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 600 Metres, SHINING ON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PHENOMENAL COMBO which continued to race close to the heels of LITTLE PLAYER. Passing the 300 Metres, CHAMP PATROL raced tight inside SMART WONGCHOY which lay in. Near the 250 Metres, ORIENTAL AMIGO was awkwardly placed inside the heels of HAPPY TIME which shifted in when commencing to give ground. ORIENTAL AMIGO then raced tight between HAPPY TIME and LITTLE THUNDER when improving into tight running between those horses passing the 200 Metres. When questioned, K Teetan (LITTLE PLAYER) stated that after travelling keenly in the early stages, LITTLE PLAYER got its head up passing the 500 Metres when being checked away from the heels of HAPPY TIME. He said LITTLE PLAYER then continued to be awkwardly placed behind HAPPY TIME which at this time was being ridden along to maintain its position. He said at the entrance to the Straight he attempted to immediately shift out from inside AMAZING KNIGHT to the outside of that horse when improving into tight running between AMAZING KNIGHT and PHENOMENAL COMBO, however, LITTLE PLAYER was racing close to the heels of AMAZING KNIGHT at this stage which resulted in him having to take longer than hoped to shift to the outside of AMAZING KNIGHT. He added once he was able to achieve this near the 250 Metres, LITTLE PLAYER then finished off the race only fairly and he attributed the horse, which was only having its second race start tonight, not being able to close off strongly to its racing manners in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of LITTLE PLAYER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, B Shinn (HAPPY TIME) reported that after momentarily racing in restricted room between SMART WONGCHOY and CHAMP PATROL near the 450 Metres, HAPPY TIME immediately came off the bridle and was reluctant to maintain its position between those horses. He said after this, despite being ridden along rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight, HAPPY TIME was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY TIME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SMART WONGCHOY and LITTLE THUNDER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PEGASUS GLORY, CHAMP PATROL and PHENOMENAL COMBO were sent for sampling.