22/12/2021  Happy Valley  Race 1

SMART COUSIN began awkwardly and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of PRESIDENT STAR which shifted out. As the start was effected, DAILY BEAUTY lifted its right hind leg off the ground and consequently began awkwardly. From wide barriers, WONDERFUL TIGER and WITTY SCHOLAR were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. AEROSONIC shifted out at the start and bumped SMILING FACE. After this, SMILING FACE was shifted across behind runners. Near the 1350 Metres, DAILY BEAUTY was momentarily crowded for room inside WONDER WIN which shifted in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HAPPY JAI JAI. VIRTUS STAR, which was following WONDER WIN, was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse in consequence approaching and passing the 1300 Metres. NITRO EXPRESS, which was following VIRTUS STAR, improved to be racing into very tight running inside that horse which resulted in NITRO EXPRESS shifting in and causing SMART COUSIN to be crowded for room. WONDERFUL TIGER, which was following NITRO EXPRESS, was also hampered in this incident. For some distance approaching the 800 Metres, WONDERFUL TIGER commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied away from the heels of WONDER WIN. At the entrance to the Straight, SMILING FACE was checked away from the heels of AEROSONIC when disappointed for running between that horse and DAILY BEAUTY which shifted out. As the Stewards were satisfied that SMILING FACE had not established running between AEROSONIC and DAILY BEAUTY, no further action was taken. Passing the 300 Metres, PRESIDENT STAR and AEROSONIC bumped. WONDERFUL TIGER lay in under pressure in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of NITRO EXPRESS immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. HAPPY JAI JAI and CENTENARY IBIS were sent for sampling.