30/11/2011  Happy Valley  Race 5

HANNIBAL BARCA and FRESH AIR made heavy contact at the start. From a wide barrier, LAGO EXPRESS was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Passing the 600 Metres, VINTAGE HUSSLER was momentarily crowded for room between YOUNG TURBO which shifted out slightly and DEPOSER which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of GOOD BOY BOY. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, STALLION SUPREME got its head on the side and hung out badly across the heels of SEA THE PEARLS. Because of this, STALLION SUPREME was severely checked and lost a considerable amount of ground. After this, STALLION SUPREME continued to hang out. In this incident, SUPER PLUS, which was following, was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of STALLION SUPREME. Before being allowed to race again, STALLION SUPREME will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial around a bend. Rounding the Home Turn, PROSPEROUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DEPOSER. Near the 100 Metres, LAGO EXPRESS was steadied when unable to improve to the inside of HANNIBAL BARCA where there was insufficient room. After this, LAGO EXPRESS was held up for clear running behind HANNIBAL BARCA until the concluding stages. In the Straight, YOUNG TURBO got its head on the side and shifted out under pressure. Z Purton reported that he had to make continual use of GOOD BOY BOY in the early and middle stages to cross runners to his inside and obtain a position close to the fence. He said because of the amount of use he had to make of GOOD BOY BOY, the horse was then not able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of GOOD BOY BOY and STALLION SUPREME after the race did not show any significant findings. VINTAGE HUSSLER, SUPER PLUS and YOUNG TURBO were sent for sampling. The Stewards will interview D Whyte, the rider of VINTAGE HUSSLER, regarding his riding of that horse in the early stages prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Sunday, 4 December 2011.