06/04/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

WONDER YEARS was slow to begin and then from the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. PASSING FASHION shifted out on jumping and bumped the hindquarters of VICTORIOUS SEEKER. TELECOM CHEETAH shifted out at the start and bumped SKY GEM. TELECOM CHEETAH was then steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the first turn near the 2000 Metres, KING DRAGON shifted out and bumped SKY GEM. SUPER HONG KONG, which was following, was hampered in consequence when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SKY GEM. After this, SUPER HONG KONG travelled wide and without cover. Near the 1900 Metres, VICTORIOUS SEEKER and SUPER HONG KONG bumped. After the 1000 Metres, WONDER YEARS was ridden along in an attempt to improve its position and after this travelled wide and without cover. Passing the 400 Metres, WINNING VOLATILITY was held up for clear running behind PASSING FASHION and then rounding the Home Turn shifted out to obtain clear running and in doing so brushed SKY GEM. Passing the 300 Metres, KING DRAGON was awkwardly placed behind SKY GEM. When questioned, A Badel stated that he was asked to have SKY GEM positioned in front of midfield tonight. He said he was told that if the pace of the race was only fair, it was available to him to commence to improve his position around runners after the 1000 Metres given that SKY GEM was carrying a very light weight. He said in the early stages he was able to take up a forward position on SKY GEM without having to ride his mount along and SKY GEM travelled well behind the leaders. He said approaching the 1100 Metres he felt that SUPER HONG KONG, which was travelling wide and without cover, was commencing to improve its position around SKY GEM and as he did not want to be pocketed by that horse and be left racing behind KING DRAGON along the Back Straight, he elected to shift to the outside of KING DRAGON and commenced to improve his position forward of that horse to race outside the lead near the 900 Metres. He said whilst this move was earlier than he anticipated, he believed it was in the best interests of SKY GEM as in its videos SKY GEM had demonstrated to him that the horse is one which takes a good deal of riding in its races and he felt that being pocketed amongst runners would be detrimental to the horse’s chances of finishing the race off. He said after shifting across to race outside the leader, his mount came off the bridle near the 600 Metres and he had to ride it along to maintain its position. He said this did not immediately concern him as he had noted the horse had performed similarly in some of its previous races. He said however that prior to the Home Turn SKY GEM came under heavy pressure and then in the Straight gave ground. He added that as SKY GEM was successful at its most recent start on a rain affected track, he was of the view that tonight’s good track together with the promotion into Class 4 may account for the horse failing to finish the race off in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of SKY GEM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of KING DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NATURAL STORM and WINNING VOLATILITY were sent for sampling.