13/01/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

BRAVE KING was slow to begin. From wide barriers, METHANE and CAN’T TOUCH THIS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, BRAVE KING raced tight between HAPPY WIN WIN and ZHAN JIANG ROCKS which shifted in before being corrected by its rider. In this incident, BRAVE KING made contact with the hindquarters of HAPPY WIN WIN which became unbalanced. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, HAPPY WIN WIN commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when being steadied. Approaching the 1200 Metres, when awkwardly placed outside the heels of BIG LUCK CHAMP, HAPPY WIN WIN shifted out and made contact with ZHAN JIANG ROCKS. At the 900 Metres, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 600 Metres, CAN’T TOUCH THIS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of METHANE which shifted out. At the 500 Metres, BIG LUCK CHAMP was steadied when momentarily crowded for room between KING DRAGON which was awkwardly placed behind ALL YOU KNOW and METHANE which lay in when endeavouring to improve inside the heels of HAPPY WIN WIN. After being awkwardly placed inside the heels of HAPPY WIN WIN on the Home Turn, METHANE was then directed back to the inside of MONSTER KAKA soon after straightening to obtain clear running. METHANE was then momentarily awkwardly placed on the heels of SUPERBELLA which was giving ground at the 250 Metres and shifted in further to the inside of KING DRAGON to continue improving. In the early part of the Straight, MONSTER KAKA was inclined to lay in behind ZHAN JIANG ROCKS before being shifted to the outside of that horse approaching the 200 Metres. At the 150 Metres, Z Purton (HAPPY WIN WIN) dropped his whip. When questioned, A Hamelin (WINWIN THIRTYTHREE) stated that, from barrier 6, he was instructed to ensure the horse began as well as possible and endeavour to take up a position midfield with cover. He said WINWIN THIRTYTHREE is often slow to begin, however, tonight the horse jumped extremely well and was prominently placed soon after the start. He said approaching the winning post on the first occasion he steadied WINWIN THIRTYTHREE in an endeavour to obtain cover behind the leading division, however, the horse got its head up and commenced to travel strongly. He said WINWIN THIRTYTHREE continued to travel strongly and would not settle and when left racing three wide and without cover at the 1200 Metres, the horse pulled its way forward to join the leaders GALLANT CROWN and SUPERBELLA. He said therefore, rather than fight with the horse, he elected to allow WINWIN THIRTYTHREE to stride into the lead in the hope that it would drop the bridle and travel more generously. He said however that WINWIN THIRTYTHREE continued to race very keenly along the Back Straight and would not settle and as a consequence did not close off the race and weakened badly in the Straight. He confirmed that it was not intended for WINWIN THIRTYTHREE to lead tonight, however, the circumstances of the race and WINWIN THIRTYTHREE’s ungenerous racing manners had prompted him to employ this tactic. A veterinary inspection of WINWIN THIRTYTHREE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of BIG LUCK CHAMP immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. KING DRAGON, GALLANT CROWN and BRAVE KING were sent for sampling.