14/09/2011  Happy Valley  Race 8

VOILE ROUGE was checked shortly after the start when crowded for room between KING OF REASON which got its head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider and LONDON CHINA TOWN which was taken out by EASY WINNER which, after beginning awkwardly, was taken out by FLYING COLOURS which shifted out slightly. CHATER MIKADO, which was slow to begin, was hampered shortly after the start when GURUS DREAM shifted in. Passing the 900 Metres, VOILE ROUGE raced tight inside KING OF REASON. After the 800 Metres, GURUS DREAM was left racing wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding out of ELITE SIXTY-SIX, 3rd placegetter, over the concluding stages, D Beadman stated that after being placed under pressure in the Straight, ELITE SIXTY-SIX’s run peaked passing the 100 Metres. He said he continued to ride the horse out with the whip as that horse was still in contention for a minor placing. He said however that close to the finishing line he felt his mount become badly unbalanced after it appeared to have been galloped on by another runner. He added that after ELITE SIXTY-SIX became unbalanced in its action, he ceased riding the horse out with the whip as he felt that it may have gone amiss. Apprentice T H So, the rider of EASY WINNER, explained that after passing the 100 Metres his mount got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of ELITE SIXTY-SIX. He said he straightened his mount up and continued to ride it out in the run to the finish, however, close to the finishing line EASY WINNER again got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of ELITE SIXTY-SIX and, in his opinion, struck the back legs of ELITE SIXTY-SIX. The Stewards, after viewing the video, were satisfied that EASY WINNER’s left front leg had struck the right hind leg of ELITE SIXTY-SIX above the hock which resulted in the horse changing stride and becoming unbalanced. For this reason, no further action was taken. A veterinary inspection of ELITE SIXTY-SIX after the race did not show any significant findings. The Stewards will afford B Prebble the opportunity to explain the disappointing performance of JUMBO GOLD prior to the first race at the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 18 September 2011. A veterinary inspection of JUMBO GOLD after the race revealed that the horse had sustained a mild abrasion to the right hock. A veterinary inspection of BEST FIT after the race did not show any significant findings. JUMBO GOLD, FLYING COLOURS and LONDON CHINA TOWN were sent for sampling.