13/07/2022  Happy Valley  Race 8

MODEST GENTLEMAN and STORMTROUPER bumped at the start. OUR LUCKY GLORY shifted out on jumping and bumped YO BEAUTY which in turn shifted out and bumped MERIDIAN GENIUS. After this, OUR LUCKY GLORY was awkwardly placed outside the heels of STORMTROUPER which shifted out. From a wide barrier, EXUBERANT was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. R Maia (STORMTROUPER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 1000 Metres he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from shifting in when not clear of MODEST GENTLEMAN, resulting in that horse being crowded for room and being checked as a result of losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. R Maia was suspended from riding in races for the first 3 racemeetings of the 2022/2023 season, the dates of which are yet to be confirmed. In addition, Jockey Maia was fined $30,000. Approaching the 900 Metres, MODEST GENTLEMAN commenced to travel keenly and became unbalanced when awkwardly placed behind STORMTROUPER. After the 800 Metres, both GOODLUCK GOODLUCK and YOUNG LIFE FOREVER were left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 150 Metres, YOUNG LIFE FOREVER was crowded for room between EXUBERANT and MODEST GENTLEMAN which was bumped by OUR LUCKY GLORY (L Hewitson) which shifted to the outside of GOODLUCK GOODLUCK to obtain clear running. L Hewitson was reprimanded and told to exercise more care in future when shifting ground than he did on this occasion. When questioned, R Maia stated that rounding the Home Turn STORMTROOPER was travelling strongly. He said after following TRADER in the middle stages, that horse came under heavy pressure passing the 400 Metres. He said as he directed STORMTROUPER to the inside of TRADER at the entrance to the Straight, TRADER stopped abruptly in front of STORMTROUPER which resulted in STORMTROUPER clipping the heels of TRADER and stumbling badly and which caused STORMTROUPER to lose a significant amount of ground. He said due to this incident and the amount of ground lost he did not persist in riding STORMTROUPER out over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of STORMTROUPER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. YO BEAUTY, OUR LUCKY GLORY and EXCELLENT PEERS were sent for sampling.