16/12/2020  Happy Valley  Race 7

ORION PATCH began only fairly. UTOPIA LIFE and POISED TO STRIKE bumped at the start. WE THE SOUTH shifted in at the start and made contact with KURPANY which was then crowded for room between WE THE SOUTH and HANDSOME BO BO which shifted out. Approaching the turn after the 600 Metres, HANDSOME BO BO got its head on the side and lay in, causing KURPANY to be hampered. POISED TO STRIKE made contact with the running rail after passing the 600 Metres and became unbalanced. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, DIAMOND BRILLIANT was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MOMENT OF POWER. Approaching and rounding the Home Turn, KURPANY was awkwardly placed inside the heels of WE THE SOUTH. Approaching the 250 Metres, DIAMOND BRILLIANT raced tight between SAUL’S SPECIAL and UTOPIA LIFE which shifted in before being corrected. In this incident, DIAMOND BRILLIANT made contact with the hindquarters of SAUL’S SPECIAL. After being corrected, UTOPIA LIFE then shifted out, resulting in MOMENT OF POWER, WE THE SOUTH and HANDSOME BO BO being inconvenienced. KURPANY, which was making ground behind UTOPIA LIFE, shifted in away from the heels of that horse and made contact with ORION PATCH. When questioned, J Moreira stated that he was instructed to be positive on WE THE SOUTH and to take up a forward positon which is the horse’s usual racing pattern. He said however that he was also given the alternative instruction of finding cover just behind the lead if WE THE SOUTH did not begin well as it was felt that there were a number of horses drawn inside WE THE SOUTH that would be ridden to obtain the lead. He said after being bumped on the hindquarters by KURPANY soon after the start and becoming unbalanced, he identified a number of horses being ridden vigorously to pursue the lead and as he felt that he would have had to make significant use of WE THE SOUTH to cross those runners, he chose to steady WE THE SOUTH in an endeavour to obtain cover. He said passing the 700 Metres he commenced to shift in to take up a trailing position behind MOMENT OF POWER, however, no sooner had he done this, MOMENT OF POWER was steadied by its rider which resulted in WE THE SOUTH racing further back in the field than was intended. He added although WE THE SOUTH was not suited by being ridden back in the field and was disappointing, he was also of the view that the horse raced "flat” tonight. A veterinary inspection of WE THE SOUTH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ORION PATCH had sustained a small cut to the left front coronet. A veterinary inspection of MOMENT OF POWER and WILD WEST WING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FLYING GENIUS and KURPANY were sent for sampling.