19/10/2022  Happy Valley  Race 1

LEGION OF MERIT lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and bumped the outside of its gate. LEGION OF MERIT was then bumped by DARCI JOY which shifted in. DARCI JOY then became unbalanced after being bumped by GREAT BRILLIANT which shifted in. SMOOTHIES and ON EXCEL STAR bumped heavily on jumping. ON EXCEL STAR then shifted out and bumped CHARIZARD. After this, SMOOTHIES and CHARIZARD were shifted across behind runners to obtain a position closer to the rail. Also from a wide barrier, LUCKY MISSILE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After travelling a short distance, PERFECT TO GREAT shifted in and bumped GREAT BRILLIANT on a number of occasions, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Passing the 300 Metres, LEGION OF MERIT shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of DARCI JOY which also lay in marginally. This resulted in both horses becoming unbalanced. Approaching the 200 Metres, LUCKY MISSILE raced in restricted room between GREAT BRILLIANT and CHARIZARD which shifted out before being directed back in to relieve the crowding to LUCKY MISSILE. Near the 100 Metres, GREAT BRILLIANT was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of LUCKY MISSILE. When questioned, M L Yeung (UNITED ENDEAVORS) stated that it was anticipated that MORE THAN ENOUGH would lead tonight’s race and that ON EXCEL STAR may be ridden in a forward position. He said he was told that if UNITED ENDEAVORS showed sufficient speed to be able to cross ON EXCEL STAR, then he should position his mount outside MORE THAN ENOUGH, however, if ON EXCEL STAR was intent on obtaining a position outside MORE THAN ENOUGH, he should obtain cover behind ON EXCEL STAR. He said after beginning well he allowed UNITED ENDEAVORS to obtain a forward position, however, was aware of ON EXCEL STAR being ridden along in the early stages to improve its position. He said given that the race was being run at a good tempo in the early stages and as ON EXCEL STAR was being ridden positively in the run to the winning post on the first occasion, he elected to steady UNITED ENDEAVORS and attempt to obtain a position behind ON EXCEL STAR. He added that when he was unable to do this due to DARCI JOY maintaining its position behind ON EXCEL STAR, this resulted in UNITED ENDEAVORS racing three wide and without cover. He said after the 1300 Metres the race continued to be run at a good tempo and when he noticed that ON EXCEL STAR was proving difficult to settle, he was of the opinion that he would have had to make too much use of UNITED ENDEAVORS in an attempt to improve forward of ON EXCEL STAR and therefore he remained racing three wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. After the race, Z Purton stated that when proceeding to the barriers, ON EXCEL STAR got its head up on a number of occasions. He said after riding his mount along in the early stages to obtain a forward position, he steadied ON EXCEL STAR to obtain a position outside MORE THAN ENOUGH after passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said ON EXCEL STAR initially travelled kindly, however, for a considerable distance after the 1200 Metres got its head up on a number of occasions and would not relax. He said this resulted in him becoming unbalanced in the saddle passing the 1100 Metres. He added that he attempted to have ON EXCEL STAR race more comfortably, however, the horse again got its head up and raced ungenerously after the 1000 Metres. He said because of the racing manners of ON EXCEL STAR tonight, the horse was then not able to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of ON EXCEL STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CHARIZARD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. RAINBOW LIGHT, LEGION OF MERIT and MORE THAN ENOUGH were sent for sampling.