30/04/2014  Happy Valley  Race 3

SPURS ON proved difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, SPURS ON will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. HELEN’S CHOICE bounded in the air as the start was effected and consequently lost ground. Shortly after the start, RAY OF GOLD was steadied away from the heels of FLASHING GUY which shifted out. From the outside barrier, WINNING NOVEL was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Also from a wide barrier, NOBODY BUT YOU was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, FORTUNE BRAVO got its head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, C K Tong, resulting in BERNARD’S CHOICE being taken in towards CAPITAL K. FORTUNE BRAVO, which at this time had SEASONS STAR improving to its outside, continued to lay in, resulting in BERNARD’S CHOICE being taken across the running of CAPITAL K, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled near the 1000 Metres. The Stewards, after considering all the circumstances of this incident, decided that it was appropriate for C K Tong to be severely reprimanded. C K Tong was advised that whilst in this incident he had made an effort to relieve the tightening to BERNARD’S CHOICE and CAPITAL K when awkwardly placed inside SEASONS STAR, nonetheless in similar circumstances he would be expected to make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. After the 1000 Metres, FORTUNE BRAVO was left racing wide and without cover. After the 900 Metres, CAPITAL K proved very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of RAY OF GOLD for some distance. BERNARD’S CHOICE lost its left front plate near the 800 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, NOBODY BUT YOU was shifted out away from the heels of HELEN’S CHOICE. Passing the 200 Metres, CAPITAL K shifted in and brushed NOBODY BUT YOU. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HELEN’S CHOICE, N Callan stated that although his mount lost ground after bounding in the air as the start was effected, he was able to shift over to race on the rail in the early stages and throughout the early and middle stages the horse travelled strongly in about a midfield position. He said the manner in which HELEN’S CHOICE travelled indicated to him that it would be able to close off the race well. He said however that when the tempo of the race quickened prior to the Home Turn, HELEN’S CHOICE immediately came off the bridle and, despite being vigorously ridden along rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, would not respond to his riding and commenced to give ground. He added he had been riding HELEN’S CHOICE in track work leading up to tonight’s race and as that work was good, he expected it to race well. A veterinary inspection of HELEN’S CHOICE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on CAPITAL K at the request of Trainer T P Yung. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, CAPITAL K will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RAY OF GOLD, SEASONS STAR and MONTE CASTELLO were sent for sampling.