21/01/2009  Happy Valley  Race 1

FAST GO was slow to begin. STRIKING MASCOT bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. NAMJONG GOODLUCK was slow into stride. On jumping, from the outside barrier, VICTORY MASCOT was taken back. At the 1100 Metres, NAMJONG GOODLUCK was left racing wide and without cover, then after entering the Back Straight was allowed to stride forward and cross to race outside the lead. Making the turn at the 1000 Metres, STRIKING MASCOT was steadied away from the heels of FAST GO which in turn was steadied away from the heels of DASHING CHAMPION. Near the 800 Metres, EVERGREEN, which was proving difficult to settle when being steadied away from the heels of STAY YOUNG, shifted in and caused crowding on its inside to FAST GO which at the same time was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DASHING CHAMPION which in turn was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FRIENDSHIP. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, AMAZING FORTUNE was steadied away from the heels of FAST GO and STRIKING MASCOT was checked to avoid the heels of EVERGREEN. When STRIKING MASCOT was checked, it shifted out and hampered EMBRACES, carrying that horse wider. At the 250 Metres, AMAZING FORTUNE became unbalanced when hampered by FAST GO which when commencing to give ground got its head on the side and shifted in away from EVERGREEN after initially being carried in by that horse which got its head on the side and hung in. No action was taken. At the 150 Metres, EMBRACES, which was giving ground, was steadied when crowded for room between VICTORY MASCOT and BOLD CHAMPION which when improving towards the outside of STRIKING MASCOT was carried wider by that horse. When questioned, O Doleuze (BOLD CHAMPION) said because of the horse’s wide draw he was instructed to take his mount back on jumping. He said in accordance with those instructions he took hold of BOLD CHAMPION at the start, then crossed to race on the rail but at the rear of the field. He said in the run he followed AMAZING FORTUNE and was to the inside of HARRY HARRY. He said BOLD CHAMPION was not suited by the slow tempo in the early and middle stages. He said when the field sprinted approaching the 600 Metres he niggled BOLD CHAMPION along to go forward, however, his mount was left flat-footed and did not respond to his riding. He said because of this HARRY HARRY was able to go forward of him and cross to the rail. He said approaching the Home Turn he again commenced to ride BOLD CHAMPION along to go forward and after taking some time to gather momentum, BOLD CHAMPION then closed the race off strongly. He said for some distance after the 200 Metres he experienced some difficulty obtaining clear running. He did say should BOLD CHAMPION drawn more favourably, the horse may be ridden more prominently. AMAZING FORTUNE, DASHING CHAMPION and STAY YOUNG were sent for sampling.