08/03/2023  Happy Valley  Race 1

MUTLIWIN was slow to begin and then shortly after the start bumped with DRAGON KINGDOM which shifted out. DURHAM STAR jumped only fairly. KEEN UNITY was slow to begin and from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From the outside barrier, DARCI LEGEND was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, MULTIWIN brushed the running rail when crowded for room by DURHAM STAR which raced tight to the inside of SHADOW RUNNER which shifted in when being steadied to allow MASTER OF ALL to cross. In this incident, SHADOW RUNNER made contact with DURHAM STAR, resulting in SHADOW RUNNER becoming unbalanced. KOKUSHI MUSOU was caught wide and without cover in the early stages and passing the 800 Metres was allowed to stride forward to race in the lead. Approaching the 500 Metres, MULTIWIN was steadied when racing tight to the inside of DARCI LEGEND. Over the final 125 Metres, KOKUSHI MUSOU was inclined to lay out under pressure, resulting in DIVINE ERA being taken out slightly. M L Yeung pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 100(2) in that he failed to ride DRAGON KINGDOM, 6th placegetter, out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards. For this breach of the Rule, M L Yeung was fined a sum of $25,000. When questioned regarding his riding in the Straight, L Hewitson (DURHAM STAR) stated that near the 200 Metres he shifted to the inside of JOY IN JOY to secure clear running. He said near the 100 Metres he commenced to shift his mount to the outside of KOKUSHI MUSOU and DIVINE ERA to obtain clear running, however, as he did so, those runners shifted out which resulted in him having to direct DURHAM STAR to the outside of DIVINE ERA near the 50 Metres to secure clear running. L Hewitson added that whilst a run had opened to the inside of KOKUSHI MUSOU when that runner shifted out, he had committed to the outside prior to the shift of KOKUSHI MUSOU and therefore he continued to shift his mount out. A veterinary inspection of JOY IN JOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SON PAK FU and DIVINE ERA were sent for sampling.