18/04/2012  Happy Valley  Race 5

HAPPY GUYS was slow to begin and then despite being ridden along in the early stages failed to muster speed. RIO WILLIE shifted in at the start and bumped the hindquarters of SAME WORLD, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Close to the finishing line, SAME WORLD raced in restricted room between DOMINANT and OSVALDO. The performance of MALHECHOR GOLD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Having in mind that MALHECHOR GOLD was under pressure to maintain its position throughout the race and weakened badly after the 800 Metres and also having in mind that the horse was having its first start back from an unacceptable performance, the Stewards ruled that prior to being permitted to race again, MALHECHOR GOLD will be required to undergo a series of satisfactory official barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding his riding of CARTHAGE in the early part of the Straight, Y T Cheng stated that the horse had previously hung in in its races when ridden by him. He said because of this it was always his intention tonight to attempt to make his finishing run on the rail if possible as he felt that this would provide CARTHAGE with the best opportunity to finish off the race. He said for this reason shortly after entering the Straight he directed CARTHAGE in across the heels of SUPER PISTACHIO to position CARTHAGE on the rail rather than taking a run to the outside of that horse and inside SAME WORLD. He said although this resulted in CARTHAGE being momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER PISTACHIO, once obtaining the rail, CARTHAGE then finished off the race strongly. When questioned, M Du Plessis (RIO WILLIE) stated that on arrival at the Start he had the saddle on the horse adjusted as it had moved marginally when proceeding to the barriers. He said shortly after the start his saddle shifted back abruptly and to the right hand side. He said when this happened, RIO WILLIE commenced to attempt to buck on a number of occasions and lost a considerable amount of ground. He said although RIO WILLIE ceased attempting to buck some distance after the start and he was able to rebalance the saddle, it remained well back on the horse and for this reason he eased RIO WILLIE down as he had become significantly detached from the remainder of the field. A veterinary inspection of SAME WORLD, MALHECHOR GOLD and RIO WILLIE after the race did not show any significant findings. SAME WORLD, LIBERATOR and CARTHAGE were sent for sampling.