23/11/2022  Happy Valley  Race 3

CONCERTO was crowded for room on jumping between SMOOTHIES and BAEBAE TSOI which shifted in. After this, from wide barriers, CONCERTO and SMOOTHIES were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being vigorously ridden for some distance in the early stages, BIG TWO was slow to muster speed and approaching the winning post on the first occasion got its head up on a number of occasions and raced fiercely when being steadied to obtain cover. Approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion, V CHEVALIERS got its head up and travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind FIRE BALL. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, CONCERTO got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of SEATOSKY which itself was being steadied to obtain cover behind SPARKY STAR. Then after the 1200 Metres, CONCERTO, which was travelling keenly, was checked away from the heels of SEATOSKY when awkwardly placed behind BIG TWO. For some distance after this, CONCERTO continued to prove very difficult to settle. Approaching and passing the 900 Metres, V CHEVALIERS commenced to over-race and got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of FIRE BALL. Passing the 600 Metres, SMOOTHIES went amiss in the right front leg and was eased out of the race. Passing the 300 Metres, VUKAN raced tight between FIRE BALL and RED BRICK FIGHTER (H Bowman) which shifted in. VUKAN was then steadied after the 250 Metres when crowded for room between FIRE BALL which became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by VUKAN and RED BRICK FIGHTER which, when being directed out to relieve the crowding to VUKAN, became unbalanced and shifted in as a result of being bumped on the hindquarters by that horse. H Bowman was severely reprimanded and told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have reacted earlier than he did on this occasion to his mount shifting ground and taken corrective measures to prevent VUKAN being crowded for room. Over the concluding stages, VUKAN raced close to the heels of FIRE BALL and because of this was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. After the race, Apprentice Y L Chung (BAEBAE TSOI) stated that from the outside barrier he rode his mount along in the early stages to clear runners to his inside and was able to obtain the lead after the 1400 Metres. He said he immediately steadied BAEBAE TSOI, however, the horse was inclined to travel keenly and would not relax as well as he had hoped. He added that BAEBAE TSOI came under heavy pressure rounding the Home Turn and then did not finish the race off in the Straight which he attributed to the horse travelling too keenly in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of BAEBAE TSOI immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, BAEBAE TSOI will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPARKY STAR, RED BRICK FIGHTER and HAPPY ANGEL were sent for sampling. Samples were also taken from SMOOTHIES.