14/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

PRIME MORTAR shifted out at the start and bumped DURHAM STAR. PRIME MORTAR then raced tight between DURHAM STAR and HAPPILY FRIENDS which shifted out. Then a short distance after the start, PRIME MORTAR was steadied away from the heels of HAPPILY FRIENDS. ABOVE ALL shifted out on jumping and inconvenienced AMAZING INNOVATOR. After this, AMAZING INNOVATOR was steadied to obtain cover. Also from wide barriers, HAPPY SOUL and TOP TOP TEA were steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When being shifted across behind runners, HAPPY SOUL travelled keenly approaching and passing the 1100 Metres. Despite being ridden along for some distance in the early stages, ABOVE ALL failed to muster speed and passing the 700 Metres was left racing wide and without cover. After the 900 Metres, HAPPY SOUL was momentarily crowded for room inside ABOVE ALL which shifted in in an endeavour to obtain cover. ABOVE ALL was then shifted out to relieve the crowding to HAPPY SOUL near the 850 Metres. After the 300 Metres, DURHAM STAR attempted to improve into tight running between FLAMING EAGLE and COLONEL. DURHAM STAR then continued to race in restricted room between those horses and near the 150 Metres was steadied and shifted to the outside of COLONEL after being crowded for room between that horse (J McNeil) which lay in under pressure and FLAMING EAGLE. In this incident, FLAMING EAGLE was bumped by DURHAM STAR. J McNeil was advised that whilst the Stewards were not satisfied to the necessary degree that DURHAM STAR had properly established running between FLAMING EAGLE and COLONEL, nonetheless he was reprimanded and told that in similar circumstances he would be expected to make more of an effort to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. At the 100 Metres, TOP TOP TEA shifted out and bumped ABOVE ALL. After the 100 Metres, PRIME MORTAR lay in under pressure. After the race, C Y Ho (HAPPILY FRIENDS) stated that his mount travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages in a position behind the leader and eventual winner E BROTHER. He said when the pace of the race increased after the 500 Metres, HAPPILY FRIENDS was unable to quicken with the field and came under heavy pressure passing the 400 Metres. He added that HAPPILY FRIENDS initially stayed on satisfactorily in the early part of the Straight, however, was disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of HAPPILY FRIENDS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of EQUILIBRIUM TURBO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. E BROTHER and HAPPY SOUL were sent for sampling.