14/04/2013  Happy Valley  Race 3

GOLDEN WIDE was steadied away from the heels of REAL GENERAL shortly after the start when that horse shifted out after beginning awkwardly. From a wide barrier, OTTIMO was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, MING HOI TREASURE failed to muster speed. Near the 600 Metres, DREAM PARTNER was momentarily tightened for room inside DIAMOND START which was taken in by LITTLE RAINFOREST. Near the 500 Metres, MING HOI TREASURE got its head on the side, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of FRESH AIR. FRESH AIR had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. For some distance in the early part of the Straight, SNITZEL KID was badly held up when attempting to improve between ALL THE WINNERS and REAL GENERAL and approaching the 200 Metres was shifted to the inside of ALL THE WINNERS to obtain clear running. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he received the same instructions as last start from Mr C S Shum, the trainer of LITTLE RAINFOREST, that being to lead if possible, however, if there was too much speed he should attempt to obtain a position behind the leaders. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode LITTLE RAINFOREST positively in the early stages from the outside barrier in an attempt to have it obtain a forward position. He said REAL GENERAL, which was drawn more favourably than LITTLE RAINFOREST, was hard ridden in the early stages to also obtain a forward position and for this reason he had to use the whip on the horse down the shoulder approaching the winning post on the first occasion in an endeavour to have it muster more speed to cross REAL GENERAL. He said after passing the winning post on the first occasion it was apparent to him that REAL GENERAL was going to maintain its position to his inside and therefore he had the first of the many looks to his inside to establish whether DIAMOND START, which was following REAL GENERAL, was going to shift across to race on the rail which would have provided LITTLE RAINFOREST with the opportunity to shift in to race behind REAL GENERAL. He said when DREAM PARTNER continued to maintain its position inside DIAMOND START, he was not able to shift in to race behind REAL GENERAL and as he felt the tempo of the race was quite strong at that time and having in mind that LITTLE RAINFOREST did not show the required speed in the early stages, he was reluctant to continue to ride that horse along in an endeavour to clear REAL GENERAL between passing the winning post on the first occasion and near the 1100 Metres. He added passing the 1100 Metres he again tested REAL GENERAL to see whether that horse would hand up and obtain a position with cover behind LITTLE RAINFOREST, however, REAL GENERAL continued to maintain its position to the inside of his mount and this resulted in LITTLE RAINFOREST being left racing three wide and without cover. He said passing the 800 Metres DIAMOND START did not maintain its position on the back of REAL GENERAL and therefore he steadied LITTLE RAINFOREST with a view to shifting in behind REAL GENERAL, however, when he did this, the horse immediately came off the bridle and he was not able to shift in as he received a call from the rider of DIAMOND START alerting him that there was another horse still positioned to the inside of that horse. He said nonetheless at this time LITTLE RAINFOREST was a beaten horse and after this gave ground abruptly and weakened back through the field to be a clear last rounding the Home Turn. He added that the manner in which LITTLE RAINFOREST gave ground was alarming, however, in his opinion, could not be fully explained by the fact that the horse had been racing three wide up until the 600 Metres. Mr Shum confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Chadwick and stated that, in his opinion, today’s poor run could be attributed to the fact that the horse was obliged to travel wide and without cover throughout the race. He said the horse had done well since its last start win and, in his view, had strengthened up well. He said following today’s race, it is his intention to consider giving LITTLE RAINFOREST a freshen-up, however, he would monitor the horse’s progress in the days subsequent to the race before making a final decision. A veterinary inspection of LITTLE RAINFOREST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of LITTLE RAINFOREST, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LITTLE RAINFOREST will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, Z Purton, the rider of YOU KNOW I WIN, reported that the horse was making an abnormal respiratory noise. A veterinary inspection of YOU KNOW I WIN immediately following the race did not reveal any significant findings. LITTLE RAINFOREST, SNITZEL KID and YOU KNOW I WIN were sent for sampling.