18/02/2009  Happy Valley  Race 5

SEASONS KNACK was withdrawn on 17.2.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter KAISER’S CHOIX (P H Lo). CRUSH ON YOU was also withdrawn on 17.2.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen right fore fetlock) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter ZABEEL TREASURE (Z Purton). Before being allowed to race again, SEASONS KNACK and CRUSH ON YOU will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After arriving at the Start, the tongue tie fitted to RELY ON ME was replaced. After being boxed, RELY ON ME lunged forward and broke open the front gates of its stall. EPEE DE HUA and ROYAL PORTRAIT were slow to begin. On jumping, ZABEEL TREASURE and MEGA BULLET were taken back. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, RELY ON ME, which was racing wide on the track, was steadied and taken back to a position with cover. For the major part of the race, BULB TREASURE was inclined to hang in and making the turn at the 600 Metres shifted ground and bumped SUPER FANTASY. On straightening, BULB TREASURE was steadied and shifted out away from the heels of BATURO, then bumped with KAISER’S CHOIX. At the 250 Metres, KAISER’S CHOIX was bumped by CHATER DE LAGO which shifted in. Near the 200 Metres, SUPER FANTASY was bumped by ROYAL PORTRAIT which shifted in. Throughout the race, KAISER’S CHOIX travelled wide and without cover. RELY ON ME was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of RELY ON ME after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of RELY ON ME, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, RELY ON ME will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BATURO was sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, BATURO was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, BATURO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CHATER DE LAGO and ROYAL PORTRAIT were sent for sampling.