26/01/2022  Happy Valley  Race 8

INVINCIBLE MISSILE was slow to begin and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners. OSCAR GLORY began awkwardly. LEAP OF FAITH shifted out at the start and bumped KOWLOON GREAT which was crowded for room inside KINDA COOL. GIFT OF LIFELINE was crowded for room on jumping between SKY FOREVER and SMILING TIME which shifted out when being steadied to obtain cover. After this, GIFT OF LIFELINE was steadied and shifted across behind runners. From a wide barrier, NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE was also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. At the entrance to the Straight, MALDIVES (Z Purton) raced tight between LEAP OF FAITH and FEARLESS FIRE which shifted out. MALDIVES was then crowded for room between FEARLESS FIRE and LEAP OF FAITH (V Borges) which shifted in. This resulted in MALDIVES being awkwardly placed behind OSCAR GLORY. V Borges was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. MALDIVES then shifted out into clear running between LEAP OF FAITH and OSCAR GLORY near the 250 Metres and then passing the 200 Metres was inconvenienced by OSCAR GLORY which shifted out marginally under pressure. Immediately after the race, the Stewards considered whether to post the inquiry sign into the incident at the 300 Metres involving LEAP OF FAITH and MALDIVES. The Stewards were of the opinion that MALDIVES had obtained clear running inside LEAP OF FAITH near the 200 Metres and that horse did not shift any further ground and given that MALDIVES, after being momentarily awkwardly placed outside OSCAR GLORY passing the 200 Metres, then had clear running for the remainder of the race and having regard to the manner in which the two horses finished the race off over the concluding stages, they elected not to post the inquiry sign. After the race, Z Purton viewed the videos of the incident and the concluding stages of the race and elected not to enter a protest/objection on behalf of the connections of MALDIVES. Passing the 300 Metres, FEARLESS FIRE was momentarily held up behind OSCAR GLORY. FEARLESS FIRE was then shifted to the inside of OSCAR GLORY passing the 200 Metres to obtain clear running. After the race, A Badel stated that after being steadied in the early stages to obtain cover from a wide barrier, SKY FOREVER was not suited by the moderate tempo of tonight’s race. He said, in his opinion, because of this SKY FOREVER was not able to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of SKY FOREVER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. OSCAR GLORY, LEAP OF FAITH and MALDIVES were sent for sampling.