17/03/2021  Happy Valley  Race 3

After being loaded into the barriers, JUST NOT LISTENING became fractious and as the start was effected lifted its front feet off the ground and was slow to begin. Before being allowed to race again, JUST NOT LISTENING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. LAND POWER shifted out abruptly at the start and bumped heavily with GRAND POWER which became badly unbalanced and lost ground when taken out onto FORTUNE HAPPINESS. In this incident, LAND POWER lost its right front plate. FARIBAULT shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of AMAZING KNIGHT. After this, FARIBAULT was steadied to obtain cover. AMAZING KNIGHT was also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners, however, throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. From the outside barrier, MASTER ALBERT was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the 1000 Metres, INNO LEGEND travelled keenly and was steadied away from the heels of VIVA CHEF. Near the 950 Metres, LAND POWER got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of PEAK TO PEAK. JUST NOT LISTENING made the turn after the 1000 Metres very awkwardly and got its head up on a number of occasions. CHAMPION PRIDE, which was following and travelling keenly, also got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of JUST NOT LISTENING. After this, CHAMPION PRIDE continued to over-race for some distance. OURGOLDENRULES got its head on the side and lay out making the turn after the 600 Metres and again in the Straight. JUST NOT LISTENING was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FARIBAULT approaching the 500 Metres. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if CHAMPION PRIDE had been afforded a fair start. After viewing the videos, it was ascertained that as the start was effected CHAMPION PRIDE, which was being assisted by a starting gate handler, commenced to become fractious, lifted its front feet off the ground and in doing do bumped the outside gate of its barrier stall, resulting in CHAMPION PRIDE losing a considerable amount of ground. As the Stewards were of the opinion that CHAMPION PRIDE’s barrier manners had resulted in the horse missing the start, they were satisfied that CHAMPION PRIDE had been afforded a fair start and accordingly that horse was deemed to be a runner. Before being allowed to race again, CHAMPION PRIDE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. M L Yeung (FARIBAULT) was reprimanded for using the whip on a horse out of contention. In arriving at this decision, the Stewards took into consideration that they have not spoken to Jockey Yeung about this matter for some time. A veterinary inspection of JUST NOT LISTENING and CHAMPION PRIDE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PEAK TO PEAK, LAND POWER and INNO LEGEND were sent for sampling.