12/12/2012  Happy Valley  Race 5

After being loaded, ONE OF A KIND became fractious and reared on a number of occasions. Before being allowed to race again, ONE OF A KIND will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. ONE OF A KIND shifted in at the start and bumped SUGAR PEGASUS. PLAIN RED BANNER began awkwardly. Passing the 1300 Metres, ABLE MAGIC proved very difficult to settle and improved to be racing inside the heels of MAGNANIMOUS where there was insufficient room, resulting in HEART OF GRACE being crowded. Approaching the 1000 Metres, REAL DRAGON was left racing wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. Also approaching the 1000 Metres, ABLE MAGIC got its head up and proved difficult to settle. Near the 500 Metres, ONE OF A KIND momentarily raced in restricted room between SUGAR PEGASUS and DANZULU which shifted in slightly. Near the 100 Metres, the whip of A Suborics (MAGNANIMOUS) was knocked from his grasp by the whip of Apprentice K C Ng (BILLION). N Callan, the rider of 7th placed, SUNNY MORE, was reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels right to the end of the race where circumstances permit. When questioned, T Angland (PLAIN RED BANNER) stated that his mount raced greenly throughout the early and middle stages. He said he placed the horse under pressure prior to the Home Turn and had intended to shift to the outside of runners at the entrance to the Straight. He said however that SUNNY MORE shifted out rounding the Home Turn and rather than shift PLAIN RED BANNER unnecessarily wide, he attempted to obtain a run between REAL DRAGON and SUNNY MORE shortly after entering the Straight. He said however that the run between those horses closed as a result of both horses shifting ground, therefore he elected to shift back to the inside of REAL DRAGON to follow ABLE MAGIC through, a horse he considered to be a strong chance in the race. He said after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of ABLE MAGIC passing the 250 Metres, he elected to continue to shift in in an attempt to obtain clear running, however, when it became apparent to him that no runs were becoming available to the inside, he then elected to shift out and continue to follow ABLE MAGIC through. He added that although he was not able to obtain clear running on PLAIN RED BANNER for the major part of the Straight, the horse, when into clear running over the concluding stages, finished off the race strongly. A veterinary inspection of REAL DRAGON after the race did not show any significant findings. HOME WITH GLORY and ONE OF A KIND were sent for sampling. <13/12/2012 Additional Veterinary Report>The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that AMAZING JOURNEY was lame in its left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, AMAZING JOURNEY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.