27/04/2022  Happy Valley  Race 3

BARON ZEE and PASSING FASHION bumped on jumping. NATURAL STORM shifted out at the start and inconvenienced GOD OF DRAGON. In this incident, NATURAL STORM lost its left front plate. WONDER YEARS began only fairly and then was steadied to obtain cover. WINNING VOLATILITY shifted out on jumping and bumped STIMULATION. After this, STIMULATION was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. When being steadied from the outside barrier to obtain cover, SUPER ELEGANCE was steadied away from the heels of FLASH FAMOUS after travelling a short distance. Making the turn passing the 600 Metres, NATURAL STORM shifted out and bumped WONDER YEARS which resulted in both horses becoming unbalanced. After the 300 Metres, VICTORIOUS SEEKER was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WONDER YEARS when improving into tight running outside that horse. After the 100 Metres, TELECOM CHEETAH, which was laying in under pressure, was momentarily steadied away from the heels of NATURAL STORM which shifted out marginally. Close to the finishing line, NATURAL STORM raced close to the heels of WONDER YEARS and because of this was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Whilst the riding out of GOLDEN SPECTRUM, 5th placegetter, by M F Poon did not affect that horse’s final finishing position, nonetheless he was reprimanded for failing to ride his mount out all the way to the end of the race and told to ensure that he rides his mounts out at least hands and heels to the finishing line wherever appropriate circumstances permit. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of TELECOM CHEETAH, J Moreira stated that it was intended for the horse to be ridden in about a midfield position. He said however that TELECOM CHEETAH began well tonight and when horses to its inside did not show any early speed, this resulted in TELECOM CHEETAH travelling behind the speed in a more forward position than had been anticipated. He said after being crossed by WINNING VOLATILITY approaching the 1800 Metres, TELECOM CHEETAH commenced to travel very keenly and when FLASH FAMOUS improved to its outside, this resulted in TELECOM CHEETAH not relaxing. He added that TELECOM CHEETAH continued to travel too keenly in the middle stages and, in his opinion, this accounted for the horse coming off the bridle near the 600 Metres and then not finishing the race off. A veterinary inspection of TELECOM CHEETAH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, Z Purton stated that when unable to obtain cover, WINNING VOLATILITY travelled too keenly in a forward position and because of this weakened noticeably over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of WINNING VOLATILITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GOD OF DRAGON immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. TELECOM CHEETAH, WONDER YEARS and NATURAL STORM were sent for sampling.