16/12/2020  Happy Valley  Race 3

HEALTHY TREASURE shifted in at the start and bumped MASTER ROMAN which in turn made contact with the hindquarters of PRESIDENT STAR which became unbalanced and shifted out, resulting in MASTER ROMAN being buffeted for a short distance. At the 1300 Metres, GENERAL DINO was hampered momentarily when racing in restricted room inside GO BALLISTIC which shifted in slightly when racing tight inside GREAT SMART. Approaching the 1000 Metres, MASTER ROMAN was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of GREEN GENERATION. GO BALLISTIC lost its left front plate rounding the Home Turn. Rounding the Home Turn, PRESIDENT STAR raced close to the heels of EVEN KEEL when attempting to improve to the outside of that horse. Then at the entrance to the Straight, PRESIDENT STAR was directed to the inside of EVEN KEEL to continue improving. At the 150 Metres, GO BALLISTIC was struck across the nose by the whip of A Hamelin (STRAPPING BAUHINIA). B Shinn (EVEN KEEL) was reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift out under pressure approaching the 100 Metres, resulting in GO BALLISTIC and STRAPPING BAUHINIA being hampered. Throughout the race, WONDER WIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on EVEN KEEL, B Shinn stated that as the horse had shown a tendency to be slow to begin in its races, he was asked to be positive from the jump and endeavour to take up a prominent position, hopefully behind the leaders. He said EVEN KEEL began well and approaching the winning post on the first occasion was sharing the lead with STRAPPING BAUHINIA and WONDER WIN. He said as the pace was not strong, he anticipated that STRAPPING BAUHINIA, which was racing slightly in advance of EVEN KEEL, would press on to the lead which would afford him the box seat. He said however that when STRAPPING BAUHINIA maintained its position outside EVEN KEEL, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of the horse to restrain it heavily and take a trailing positon, therefore he allowed EVEN KEEL to travel comfortably in the lead. He said after coming under pressure approaching the Home Turn, EVEN KEEL was rather disappointing in its failure to finish off the race and weakened noticeably in the Straight. He added whilst the horse’s disappointing performance may have been attributable to it leading unexpectedly, he was of the view that EVEN KEEL may struggle to see out a strong 1800 Metres. A veterinary inspection of EVEN KEEL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of STRAPPING BAUHINIA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SMART COUSIN and GREAT SMART were sent for sampling.