08/02/2023  Happy Valley  Race 5

FORTE was withdrawn on 7.2.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter COLONEL (H T Mo). Before being allowed to race again, FORTE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PACHISI, which was fractious in the barriers, was slow to begin. CHEONG FAT jumped awkwardly, made contact with the right side of its barrier and then was awkwardly placed on the heels of GOODLUCK GOODLUCK. SERGEANT PEPPER jumped only fairly. CIRCUIT SEVEN shifted out on jumping and made contact with JOY IN JOY. CIRCUIT SEVEN lost its left front plate at the start. JOY IN JOY was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages from a wide barrier. Near the 600 Metres, CHEER FOR SOUTH (Z Purton) shifted in when not quite clear, resulting in SERGEANT PEPPER being taken in slightly and causing HEARTY WISH to momentarily crowd the running of ACE TALENT. As a result, ACE TALENT reacted adversely to the crowding and ran out across the heels of HEARTY WISH, resulting in ACE TALENT being severely checked and becoming badly unbalanced, causing GOODLUCK GOODLUCK to be checked and taken out onto COLONEL which was taken wider. Whilst the Stewards accepted that the racing manners of ACE TALENT were the principal cause for the incident, nonetheless Z Purton was advised to ensure that he exercises more care and provides sufficient clearance when shifting ground. On straightening, ACE TALENT shifted out to improve and as a result PACHISI and COLONEL were taken wider. Also on straightening, HEARTY WISH was awkwardly placed on the heels of AMAZING ROCKY. Over the final 200 Metres, CIRCUIT SEVEN lay in under pressure and near the finish shifted in, resulting in SERGEANT PEPPER having to be eased. Over the final 150 Metres, PACHISI was inclined to lay in under pressure and proved difficult to ride out fully. Near the 100 Metres, E UNIVERSE was shifted to the outside of HEARTY WISH to obtain clear running and in doing so hampered CHEER FOR SOUTH. Over the final 100 Metres, CHEONG FAT improved into a narrow run to the inside of JOY IN JOY which was inclined to lay in and raced tight to the inside of that horse and as a consequence could not be ridden out fully over the concluding stages. When questioned regarding the performance of CHEER FOR SOUTH, which was having its first race start tonight, Z Purton stated that from a wide barrier he had to make some use of his mount to cross and take up a position outside the lead. He said as a result CHEER FOR SOUTH was unable to finish the race off and, in his opinion, would benefit from tonight’s race. A veterinary inspection of CHEER FOR SOUTH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of COLONEL and SERGEANT PEPPER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHEER FOR SOUTH, HEARTY WISH and PACHISI were sent for sampling.