22/09/2021  Happy Valley  Race 7

BIGWOOD was withdrawn on 21.9.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (left front tendon injury). Before being allowed to race again, BIGWOOD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NOTHING NEW began awkwardly, got its head up and then was bumped by GOLDEN SPECTRUM which shifted out, resulting in NOTHING NEW being taken out onto SUPERBELLA which was bumped when crowded for room inside INDICATIVE VOTE. From the outside barriers, INDICATIVE VOTE and VINCY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 1600 Metres, NOTHING NEW was awkwardly placed between NORDIC SKY and GOLDEN SPECTRUM. When being steadied to obtain cover behind NORDIC SKY, NOTHING NEW got its head up and raced ungenerously for a number of strides when racing tight inside the heels of GOLDEN SPECTRUM. SUPERBELLA, which had shifted in from behind NOTHING NEW, was then awkwardly placed between that horse and VINCY passing the winning post on the first occasion. After the 1500 Metres, XIANG BAI QI raced tight inside DYNAMIC EAGLE which got its head on the side and shifted in away from WEALTHY DELIGHT (Z Purton). DYNAMIC EAGLE then raced tight inside WEALTHY DELIGHT approaching the winning post on the first occasion and then shifted in further away from that horse, resulting in XIANG BAI QI being steadied away from the heels of DYNAMIC EAGLE when unable to maintain its position inside that horse passing the winning post on the first occasion. Z Purton was advised that whilst the Stewards were of the opinion that DYNAMIC EAGLE’s racing manners had contributed to this incident, nonetheless they were of the opinion that he had allowed his mount to shift in and crowded the room of XIANG BAI QI and DYNAMIC EAGLE. Accordingly, he was reprimanded and told to ensure that he leaves comfortable racing room for runners to his inside in similar circumstances. Approaching the 1100 Metres, NOTHING NEW, which was travelling keenly, got its head up when awkwardly placed behind NORDIC SKY. Near the 650 Metres, GOLDEN SPECTRUM raced tight outside the heels of NORDIC SKY which was taken out by DYNAMIC EAGLE. Making the turn near the 600 Metres, DYNAMIC EAGLE got its head on the side and lay in towards the heels of MEANINGFUL STAR. XIANG BAI QI, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of DYNAMIC EAGLE in consequence. Also making the turn after the 600 Metres, NOTHING NEW got its head on the side and lay out. At the entrance to the Straight, GOLDEN SPECTRUM was shifted out away from the heels of NORDIC SKY. After the race, K Teetan stated that although GOLDEN SPECTRUM travelled wide and without cover throughout the race, he still felt that the horse performed disappointingly in that it did not travel comfortably at any stage of the race. He said he was unable to prevent horses from shifting out to his inside along the Back Straight and GOLDEN SPECTRUM was already under heavy pressure after the 600 Metres. A veterinary inspection of GOLDEN SPECTRUM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, GOLDEN SPECTRUM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Also after the race, J Moreira reported that after drawing a wide barrier, SUPERBELLA got too far back in the race to be able to finish off the race as strongly as it did towards the end of last season. He said after being awkwardly placed on heels passing the winning post on the first occasion SUPERBELLA travelled well and in the Straight finished off the race satisfactorily given the circumstances. A veterinary inspection of SUPERBELLA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of INDICATIVE VOTE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MEANINGFUL STAR and WORLD FAMOUS were sent for sampling.