07/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 5

BABY shifted out at the start and bumped STAR CONTACT. After this, from a wide barrier, STAR CONTACT was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. COPARTNER ERA and LIFELINE VISION were also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. After travelling a short distance, YEE CHEONG WARRIOR bumped SPICY GRILL when racing tight outside SUNNY DELIGHT which shifted out. Passing the 1500 Metres, KUNG FU TEA got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover behind WIN WIN FIGHTER. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, LIFELINE VISION was crowded for room between COPARTNER ERA which shifted out marginally and STAR CONTACT which shifted in before being directed out abruptly to relieve the crowding to LIFELINE VISION. After this, STAR CONTACT was left racing wide and without cover and passing the 1200 Metres was steadied in an attempt to obtain cover behind COPARTNER ERA. When being steadied to obtain a position behind COPARTNER ERA, STAR CONTACT was badly hampered approaching the 1100 Metres when taken wider by COPARTNER ERA which, when over-racing, shifted out when being checked away from the heels of SPICY GRILL. When the tempo of the race slackened in the middle stages, BABY commenced to travel keenly and passing the 800 Metres was racing close to the heels of FREE FOAL. KUNG FU TEA was also awkwardly placed behind WIN WIN FIGHTER near the 750 Metres. Near the 250 Metres, BABY raced tight outside the heels of SUNNY DELIGHT which shifted out under pressure. Approaching the 200 Metres, SPICY GRILL was directed to the inside of BABY to improve into tight running between that horse and LIFELINE VISION. SPICY GRILL then raced in restricted room approaching the 150 Metres between LIFELINE VISION and BABY which shifted in slightly when giving ground. Also approaching the 200 Metres, KUNG FU TEA shifted out and brushed COPARTNER ERA. KUNG FU TEA then raced tight inside COPARTNER ERA passing the 200 Metres. Passing the 200 Metres, ROYAL PRIDE was crowded for room when improving into tight running between MY INTELLIGENT and FREE FOAL which shifted in marginally and then shifted in further after becoming unbalanced as a result of being bumped by ROYAL PRIDE. Approaching the 100 Metres, LIFELINE VISION was steadied when disappointed for running between YEE CHEONG WARRIOR and SPICY GRILL. Over the concluding stages, STAR CONTACT lay in under pressure. When questioned, T Marquand stated that he was instructed to try and obtain inside runs in the Home Straight on SPICY GRILL as the horse has previously raced well when making its final run between horses. He said in viewing videos of the horse’s previous runs, he was also of the opinion that SPICY GRILL seemed to finish off its races best when ridden in this manner. He said near the 500 Metres SPICY GRILL was racing behind KUNG FU TEA and whilst in other circumstances he would have shifted to the outside of that horse approaching the 450 Metres to commence improving his position, he was mindful of his instructions and therefore elected to remain racing behind KUNG FU TEA with a view to improving inside that horse near the 400 Metres. He added that whilst this allowed COPARTNER ERA to improve around SPICY GRILL approaching the 400 Metres, he believed that to have shifted SPICY GRILL to the outside of KUNG FU TEA would not have been in accordance with his instructions. After the race, FREE FOAL was found to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of LIFELINE VISION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WIN WIN FIGHTER and ROYAL PRIDE were sent for sampling.