05/10/2022  Happy Valley  Race 8

OUR CLASS ACT, which sustained a small abrasion above the right nostril, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. HAPPY SOUL, which was very fractious in the barriers, was slow to begin and then from the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners to obtain a position closer to the rail. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY SOUL will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. HAPPY FOREVER and ABOVE ALL bumped at the start whilst MY INTELLIGENT and MEGA BONUS also bumped on jumping. OUR CLASS ACT was crowded for room at the start between COLOURFUL PRINCE which shifted in and SIGHT HERO which was bumped by BRAVE STAR. GEM OF SOUTH CHINA lost its left front plate in the early stages. Near the 1000 Metres, HAPPY SOUL and TURIN WARRIOR became unbalanced when crowded for room inside SIGHT HERO (L Currie) which was laying in and then was turned in due to contact being made to its hindquarters by TURIN WARRIOR. At the same time, GANG OF BROTHERS (C Y Ho) shifted in marginally, compounding the tightening before being directed out to relieve the crowding. C Y Ho and L Currie were both advised in similar circumstances to make a greater effort to ensure runners to their inside have sufficient racing room. Approaching and passing the 900 Metres, BRAVE STAR got its head up when traveling keenly and awkwardly placed behind MY INTELLIGENT. Near the 900 Metres, MY INTELLIGENT lay in away from MEGA BONUS and inconvenienced HAPPY FOREVER. Also near the 900 Metres, TURIN WARRIOR was again crowded for room inside SIGHT HERO which, after becoming unbalanced, shifted in abruptly behind BRAVE STAR before being shifted back out to provide sufficient room to TURIN WARRIOR to relieve the crowding. Passing the 800 Metres, MY INTELLIGENT raced tight inside the heels of MEGA BONUS which in turn was shifted in away from the heels of COLOURFUL PRINCE. After being cleared by COLOURFUL PRINCE near the 700 Metres, MEGA BONUS was then ridden forward to clear MY INTELLIGENT. After the 700 Metres, GEM OF SOUTH CHINA (M L Yeung) was left racing wide and without cover, lay out rounding the Home Turn and then in the Straight gave ground. After the race, M L Yeung reported that it was intended for the horse to be ridden in a forward position tonight but was unable to do so due to the fast tempo in the early stages. A veterinary inspection of GEM OF SOUTH CHINA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of GEM OF SOUTH CHINA, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, GEM OF SOUTH CHINA will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. At the entrance to the Straight, GANG OF BROTHERS and GEM OF SOUTH CHINA brushed. OUR CLASS ACT was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and after being shifted in a number of horses was again held up for clear running behind ABOVE ALL after the 250 Metres. Then near the 200 Metres, OUR CLASS ACT attempted to improve into very tight running between HAPPY FOREVER and ABOVE ALL. As OUR CLASS ACT was endeavouring to improve into tight running, ABOVE ALL (R Maia) was shifted to the inside of COLOURFUL PRINCE to obtain clear running. This resulted in OUR CLASS ACT being severely checked and not able to be properly tested over the concluding stages. After taking evidence from the relevant riders and after viewing the videos, the Stewards were not able to be satisfied that OUR CLASS ACT had established running inside ABOVE ALL given the tight run which existed in the lead up to the incident and the proximity of OUR CLASS ACT to ABOVE ALL as ABOVE ALL shifted to the inside of COLOURFUL PRINCE. Whilst the Stewards formed the view that OUR CLASS ACT had not established running inside ABOVE ALL when that horse shifted ground, nonetheless R Maia was advised to ensure that he exercises due care when shifting ground to improve his position in similar circumstances. HAPPY SOUL had difficulty obtaining clear running over the final 100 Metres and because of this was not able to be properly tested. When questioned, C Y Ho (GANG OF BROTHERS) stated that it was the intention to ride the horse in a forward position in accordance with its normal racing pattern, however, from a wide barrier was unable to do so due to the circumstances of the race in the early stages, ultimately having to race wide and then failing to run on in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of GANG OF BROTHERS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MY INTELLIGENT, SIGHT HERO and BRAVE STAR were sent for sampling.