13/01/2021  Happy Valley  Race 5

At declaration time, Apprentice C L Chau was declared as the rider of both SIMPLY FLUKE and VIVA POPCORN. It was established that Apprentice Chau had a firm commitment to ride SIMPLY FLUKE. As such, the Stewards permitted K Teetan to be substituted as the rider of VIVA POPCORN. For this declaration error, Apprentice Chau was fined $2,000. SIMPLY FLUKE was slow to begin. OVERSUBSCRIBED began awkwardly, shifted out and made contact with INFINITE POWER. OVERSUBSCRIBED was then steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. U W BROTHER shifted out on jumping, inconveniencing ENJOY MY LIFE and JAZZ STEED. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, VIVA POPCORN, which was racing greenly, shifted out slightly, resulting in FARM BUMPER being taken out and becoming awkwardly placed near the heels of TOM’S STYLE. When VIVA POPCORN shifted out, SIMPLY FLUKE, which was travelling strongly, improved up inside the heels of that horse despite the endeavours of its rider to prevent it from doing so. When VIVA POPCORN shifted back in, SIMPLY FLUKE was severely checked and made contact with the hindquarters of VIVA POPCORN which became badly unbalanced and in turn shifted out and severely hampered FARM BUMPER. JAZZ STEED, which was racing to the outside of the heels of FARM BUMPER, was inconvenienced and taken wider. The Stewards were satisfied that there was no rider error involved in this incident. When shifting out to take a narrow run between TOM’S STYLE and FARM BUMPER at the 300 Metres, OVERSUBSCRIBED made contact with FARM BUMPER. Passing the 200 Metres, TOM’S STYLE lay in and brushed the hindquarters of VIVA POPCORN which became unbalanced. Also passing the 200 Metres, FARM BUMPER was momentarily awkwardly placed behind JAZZ STEED which shifted in before being shifted to the outside of that horse. After the race, Z Purton stated that after leading, INFINITE POWER came under severe pressure and then when TRAVEL DATUK improved to its outside at the 250 Metres, the horse shied in away from that runner and became unbalanced in its action. A veterinary inspection of INFINITE POWER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FARM BUMPER immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, FARM BUMPER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. U W BROTHER, SIMPLY FLUKE and TRAVEL DATUK were sent for sampling.