23/10/2011  Happy Valley  Race 9

After being loaded, WINDICATOR POWER became fractious and lunged at the starting gates. WINDICATOR POWER was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. CHATER MIKADO was slow to begin. VITAL FLYER began awkwardly and lost ground. ROYAL FLUSH made the first turn awkwardly and shifted wider and then for the remainder of the race travelled wide and without cover. Approaching the 1000 Metres, CHARITY SPIRIT was steadied away from the heels of WINDICATOR POWER. GOOD BOY BOY proved difficult to settle for some distance approaching and passing the 1000 Metres. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident occurred near the 100 Metres which cast doubt on whether CHATER MIKADO (B Prebble) should be declared the winner of the race. D Beadman, the rider of KYARA, second placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against CHATER MIKADO being declared the winner alleging interference to his mount near the 100 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that near the 100 Metres CHATER MIKADO shifted out and momentarily impeded the running of KYARA. Having in mind the neck margin between the two horses at the end of the race and the manner in which they closed off the race over the concluding stages, the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that had the interference not occurred that KYARA would have finished in front of CHATER MIKADO. Accordingly, the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. In the Straight, KING MOSSMAN got its head on the side and shifted out, resulting in EL ZONDA and TOUCH GO being inconvenienced after the 200 Metres. When questioned, G Cheyne stated that he had been instructed to ride CHARITY SPIRIT in a position where it was comfortable, but he was not to ride the horse along in the early stages and he was to try and obtain cover if possible. He said Mr T K Ng, the trainer of CHARITY SPIRIT, did not want the horse being ridden along in the early stages due to its propensity to over-race and when ridden in a midfield position at its most recent start, the horse closed off the race strongly. He said in the early stages he shifted across in an attempt to obtain cover behind WINDICATOR POWER. He added however WINDICATOR POWER was able to shift in after the 900 Metres which resulted in CHARITY SPIRIT being left racing three wide in a midfield position. A veterinary inspection of CHARITY SPIRIT after the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of WINDICATOR POWER, Apprentice C Y Ho stated that he was able to get a good run in about a midfield position and WINDICATOR POWER travelled strongly until rounding the Home Turn. He said at this stage WINDICATOR POWER came under pressure and then was most disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding in the Straight. Trainer C Fownes stated that a forward showing was expected of WINDICATOR POWER today as the horse had done very well since its first up win this season. He said he was not in a position at this time to explain the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of WINDICATOR POWER after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of WINDICATOR POWER, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WINDICATOR POWER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KING MOSSMAN, CHATER MIKADO and KYARA were sent for sampling.