15/05/2013  Happy Valley  Race 5

CHEERS VICTORIES was withdrawn on 13.5.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter TRAVEL GUIDE. Before being allowed to race again, CHEERS VICTORIES will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, MARK TWO lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. LOVELY BOY and BEAUTY KING made heavy contact at the start. From the outside barrier, RIGHT TIMING was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. A short distance after the start, ABLE MAGIC, which was being steadied, was momentarily crowded for room inside TRAVEL GUIDE which shifted in. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, RAY’S FAVOURITE failed to muster speed and passing the winning post on the first occasion was taken across behind runners to obtain a position with cover. After being ridden along to obtain a forward position, LOVELY BOY proved difficult to settle for some distance after the 1200 Metres and got its head up on a number of occasions. After the 900 Metres, PLAIN RED BANNER travelled keenly. After the 700 Metres, MARK TWO was left racing wide and without cover. After the 600 Metres, LOVELY BOY made contact with the running rail and became unbalanced. In the early part of the Straight, RAY’S FAVOURITE got its head on the side and shifted in and approaching the 200 Metres made contact with PLAIN RED BANNER which shifted out slightly. After this, PLAIN RED BANNER and RAY’S FAVOURITE raced tight until approaching the 150 Metres. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BEAUTY KING, W C Marwing stated that, from barrier 8, he had to make some use of the horse in the early stages to cross to race initially outside the leader LOVELY BOY. He said when that horse was steadied by its rider, he allowed BEAUTY KING to obtain the lead after the 1000 Metres. He said BEAUTY KING then travelled well and during this part of the race travelled similarly to its last start when the horse was successful. He said tonight however the horse came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and did not respond as it did at its most recent start. He added on that occasion BEAUTY KING quickened well, however, tonight the horse did not show any turn of foot and was disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding when placed under pressure in the Straight. Trainer L Ho stated that, in his opinion, the circumstances of tonight’s race were different from its most recent start when the horse was successful in that it had to be made use of in the early stages to cross and the tempo of the race after the 1200 Metres was faster than at its most recent start. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY KING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of LOVELY BOY immediately following the race revealed the horse to be distressed. Before being allowed to race again, LOVELY BOY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FLYING ELITE and PLAIN RED BANNER were sent for sampling.