24/05/2023  Happy Valley  Race 1

HAPPY WON was withdrawn on 23.5.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (left front tendon injury) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SPLENDID STAR (K Teetan). Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY WON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CLASSIC ARCHI jumped only fairly. JOLLY FOREVER shifted out at the start and crowded LUCKY MISSILE, resulting in LUCKY MISSILE shifting out and bumping with FORTUNE WINNER. FORTUNE WINNER was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, SPEED FORCE was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. SPLENDID STAR was inclined to race keenly in the middle stages. Approaching the 600 Metres, JOLLY FOREVER was steadied when crowded by MIGHTY STAR (M F Poon) when that runner shifted in and away from SPEED FORCE. M F Poon was advised to exercise more care. Near the 400 Metres, LOYAL AMBITION was checked when crowded for room between VINCY (Z Purton) which shifted to the outside of RING BELLS to improve and CLASSIC ARCHI which, after being bumped on the hindquarters by LOYAL AMBITION, then shifted in slightly. Z Purton was reprimanded. The performance of MIGHTY STAR, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MIGHTY STAR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SEATOSKY, which finished tailed out on the second occasion in recent starts, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SEATOSKY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a series of consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SEATOSKY immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. After the race, L Ferraris (RING BELLS) reported that his mount did not appreciate being challenged in the lead throughout the middle stages. He added that RING BELLS also made a respiratory noise during the running of the event. A veterinary inspection of RING BELLS immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer”. The performance of RING BELLS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, RING BELLS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Also after the race, L Hewitson (LUCKY MISSILE) stated that he was obliged to make some use of his mount in the early stages to hold a forward position, however, LUCKY MISSILE gave ground from the 700 Metres and was most disappointing. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY MISSILE immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY MISSILE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FORTUNE TRIPLE and VINCY were sent for sampling.