04/11/2008  Happy Valley  Race 2

SWEET BABY when being taken back on jumping was crowded for room between REWARDING STAR and DASHING CHAMPION which got its head on the side and shifted in. Because of this, SWEET BABY lost its position and travelled with the rear of the field. Approaching the 1200 Metres, WITHALLMYHEART was steadied to avoid the heels of REWARDING STAR (D Beadman) which at this time was steadied back from a position outside AMBITIOUS OWNER which was over-racing. D Beadman was advised against the practice of steadying unnecessarily in front of other runners. After the 1200 Metres, AMBITIOUS OWNER, which was over-racing and was close to the heels of SILVER WRAITH, was shifted away from the rail as the tempo of the race steadied. Also after the 1200 Metres, CLOVIS became unbalanced when momentarily crowded for room inside REWARDING STAR. In the early stages, DASHING CHAMPION travelled wide and without cover. After entering the Back Straight, LEADER, which was being steadied to obtain a position with cover, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HARRY HARRY which shifted out. At the 300 Metres, SILVER WRAITH was bumped by DASHING CHAMPION which shifted in. After the 50 Metres, ALL OUR WAY, which was closing the race off fairly, was steadied when having difficulty obtaining clear running between CLOVIS and WITHALLMYHEART. Because of this, ALL OUR WAY was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. For the majority of the race, SUNBELL travelled wide and without cover. Following the race, M Du Plessis (AMBITIOUS OWNER), which performed poorly, reported the horse's performance in his opinion was due to it over-racing and proving difficult to settle. He said because of the manner in which AMBITIOUS OWNER travelled, it failed to finish the race off in the Home Straight. G Mossé (HARRY HARRY) said he had been instructed to allow the horse to settle as it had been disappointing in its first up performance when ridden in a forward position and there had been no improvement in its subsequent track work. He said accordingly on jumping he took HARRY HARRY back and raced near the rear, however, the horse travelled only fairly throughout the race and was again disappointing in the manner in which it closed off. HARRY HARRY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of HARRY HARRY after the race did not show any significant findings. CLOVIS, REWARDING STAR and QUALITY-QUALITY were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SUNBELL had blood present at its right nostril. He said an endoscopic examination showed the horse's trachea to be clean and therefore was not deemed to have bled.