06/07/2011  Happy Valley  Race 5

Just prior to the start being effected, VERY WELL became fractious and then as the start was effected stood flat-footed and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, VERY WELL will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. Shortly after the start, BUTTERFIELD (G Cheyne) was steadied when crowded for room between SUNRISE and PERFECT SPRINT which was bumped by SPEECHMAKER which in turn was taken in by ELEPHANT CHEERS which after being initially taken in by FORTUNE WINNER got its head on the side and shifted in away from that horse. In this incident, PERFECT SPRINT became unbalanced. After this, BUTTERFIELD, despite being ridden along, became detached from the field. G Cheyne reported after the race that, in his opinion, BUTTERFIELD would not stretch out on tonight’s track surface. From the outside barrier, SMART FORTUNE was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Making the turns after the 1000 Metres and again after the 600 Metres, MARK GOOD got its head on the side and hung out. FORTUNE WINNER travelled wide and without cover until after the 800 Metres. Near the 150 Metres, Apprentice M L Yeung (MARK GOOD) dropped his right rein. When questioned, J Lloyd stated that he had been instructed to ride SPEECHMAKER positively in the early stages as the horse was stepping up in distance to 1650 Metres and the horse had raced well overseas when ridden in a forward position overseas over this distance. He said it was felt that MY MATE ADRIC and MY GOAL would take up forward positions and he may be able to obtain a position with cover behind those horses. He said he rode SPEECHMAKER along in the early stages, however, when a number of runners continued to maintain their positions, SPEECHMAKER was left racing wide and without cover. He said after initially being ridden along to take up a forward position, he then was obliged to attempt to steady SPEECHMAKER to obtain cover and, in his opinion, this did not benefit SPEECHMAKER as the horse had previously shown itself to have a breathing issue. He added near the 500 Metres SPEECHMAKER came under heavy pressure and at the entrance to the Straight made an audible breathing noise He said for this reason he eased SPEECHMAKER down in the Straight. He said when eased down, SPEECHMAKER continued to make a breathing noise and on pulling up this noise became more audible. He added as he was dismounting SPEECHMAKER after the race, the horse was continuing to make an abnormal breathing noise. A veterinary inspection of SPEECHMAKER after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SPEECHMAKER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SPEECHMAKER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, Y T Cheng (MY GOAL) stated that his mount travelled well into the Home Straight, however, after the 200 Metres shortened stride noticeably and did not stretch out over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of MY GOAL after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MY MATE ADRIC after the race revealed that the horse had bled from both nostrils. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that MARK GOOD had lost its left front plate. SPEECHMAKER, NOBLE DELUXE and SUNRISE were sent for sampling.