29/05/2013  Happy Valley  Race 6

From a wide barrier, SMILING WATCH was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. GREAT AND BEYOND raced tight shortly after the start between DISTILL and ELEGANCE KLAMMER which began awkwardly and shifted out. A short distance later, DISTILL was bumped by GREAT AND BEYOND which shifted out after being bumped by ELEGANCE KLAMMER. Passing the 700 Metres, DISTILL became unbalanced when awkwardly placed close to the heels of INDIGO WAY. At the 300 Metres, CHAMPAGNE DAYS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GREAT AND BEYOND when being shifted to the outside of that horse. DISTILL, which was following, was then shifted to the inside of CHAMPAGNE DAYS after having to be steadied away from that horse in consequence. Approaching the 250 Metres, JOLLY GOOD was checked when disappointed for running inside SUPER PISTACHIO. Passing the 250 Metres, SMILING WATCH was shifted to the inside of GREAT RENOWN after being disappointed for running between that horse and INDIGO WAY which shifted in when tiring. After the 200 Metres, DISTILL raced in restricted room between CHAMPAGNE DAYS and GREAT AND BEYOND. Over the final 100 Metres, DISTILL and CHAMPAGNE DAYS raced tight due to CHAMPAGNE DAYS shifting in slightly after being brushed by DISTILL near the 100 Metres. When questioned, R Fourie stated that he had been instructed to ride SATIRICAL BOY in a forward position as the horse’s overseas form prior to being imported into Hong Kong had shown that it had won races when ridden in the lead. He said accordingly he rode SATIRICAL BOY along in the early stages to take up a forward position which he was able to do approaching the winning post on the first occasion. He said making the first turn he attempted to steady the tempo on SATIRICAL BOY, however, the horse would not respond to his attempts to slow the tempo and travelled keenly. He added he continued to attempt to have SATIRICAL BOY relax in the lead as he was aware that the horse was running at a quick tempo and would not be able to finish off if it continued to do so. He said however that SATIRICAL BOY continued to travel keenly and he was not able to get the horse to relax in the lead. A veterinary inspection of SATIRICAL BOY immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea and was also found to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SATIRICAL BOY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of INDIGO WAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GREAT AND BEYOND and DISTILL were sent for sampling.