09/11/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

ISLAND SURPRISE shifted out at the start and inconvenienced RIVER VIEWS. RIVER VIEWS then shifted out away from the heels of ISLAND SURPRISE, resulting in SUCCESS FIGHTER being inconvenienced. From the outside barriers, HAPPY SOUL, RATTAN KINGDOM and BIRDSVILLE were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When being shifted across behind runners, HAPPY SOUL was brushed by DURHAM STAR which shifted out a short distance after the start. GENEROUS FRIEND and DAZZLING FELLOW were also steadied in the early stages to obtain a position closer to the rail. Approaching the 1100 Metres, RIVER VIEWS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of ISLAND SURPRISE which shifted out. Then when being crossed by CHARMING STEED after the 1000 Metres, RIVER VIEWS got its head up when travelling keenly. After the 900 Metres, RATTAN KINGDOM commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUCCESS FIGHTER. RATTAN KINGDOM continued to prove very difficult to settle and approaching the 800 Metres shifted out away from the heels of SUCCESS FIGHTER which itself was awkwardly placed close to the heels of RIVER VIEWS. This resulted in RATTAN KINGDOM and DAZZLING FELLOW bumping on a number of occasions and DAZZLING FELLOW being taken wider. DAZZLING FELLOW was then steadied to obtain cover behind RATTAN KINGDOM after the 700 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, DAZZLING FELLOW got its head on the side and lay in. DAZZLING FELLOW then continued to lay in under pressure in the Straight. After the 150 Metres, RIVER VIEWS lay in under pressure and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHARMING STEED. When questioned, L Hewitson stated that he was instructed to obtain a midfield position on DURHAM STAR if possible either one horse off the rail or three wide with cover. He said it was felt that there would be reasonable speed from runners drawn more favourably than DURHAM STAR and it was also anticipated that RATTAN KINGDOM, which was drawn wide, may be ridden to obtain a forward position which would result in the field opening up and providing DURHAM STAR with the opportunity to obtain a midfield position. He said when the race was run at a slower than anticipated tempo in the early stages, DURHAM STAR, after being ridden along to clear GENEROUS FRIEND and DAZZLING FELLOW, was then left racing outside TOUCH FAITH approaching the 1000 Metres as that horse was being steadied to obtain cover behind SUCCESS FIGHTER. He said this resulted in DURHAM STAR having to be ridden forward of TOUCH FAITH so as not to race unnecessarily wide which resulted in DURHAM STAR racing in a more forward position than anticipated and without cover throughout. After the race, H Bentley reported that, in his opinion, SUCCESS FIGHTER was not suited by the moderate tempo of the race in the middle stages. He said SUCCESS FIGHTER travelled too keenly approaching and passing the 800 Metres and because of this was not able to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of SUCCESS FIGHTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ISLAND SURPRISE and RATTAN KINGDOM were sent for sampling.