12/02/2014  Happy Valley  Race 4

NAVEL ORANGE and RISING POWER were slow to begin. TAI PO FORTUNE began awkwardly. Shortly after the start, ABLE MAGIC lost ground when crowded for room between BEAUTY KING and SPIRIT SOARING, both of which shifted ground. From wide barriers, TAI PO FORTUNE and WINNING MASCOT were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, SPIRIT SOARING raced tight inside BEAUTY KING which itself raced in restricted room inside MIGHTY EQUUS. For some distance in the early and middle stages, BEAUTY KING over-raced and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of KING TAI SING. At the entrance to the Straight, CLASSY VICTOR got its head on the side and lay in. Throughout the race, COOL BEAN travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. When questioned, K Teetan stated that he had been instructed to obtain a forward position on MIGHTY EQUUS and if BEAUTY KING, the anticipated speed in the race, did not press for the lead, he should attempt to dictate the race in front. He said however MIGHTY EQUUS blundered badly as the start was effected, obliging him to ride the horse along vigorously in the early stages to take up a forward position. He said MIGHTY EQUUS did not feel completely comfortable in its action in the early stages, however, he attributed this to the horse becoming unbalanced due to the incident at the start. He said after shifting across to race outside BEAUTY KING which was racing behind the lead, MIGHTY EQUUS travelled only fairly in the middle stages. He added he had intended to allow MIGHT EQUUS to stride forward after the 800 Metres to prevent BEAUTY KING from shifting out on his inside, however, his mount was not travelling comfortably and he would have had to make considerable use of the horse to improve its position at this time. He said after being taken into a three wide position after the 700 Metres, MIGHTY EQUUS came under heavy pressure at the 500 Metres but despite being ridden along gave ground. He said the uncomfortable manner in which MIGHTY EQUUS travelled during the race and the fact that it failed to respond to his riding after the 500 Metres gave him the impression that there may have been something amiss with it which may have emanated from the incident at the start. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY EQUUS immediately following the race revealed the horse to have sustained wounds to the right hind leg and an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in its trachea. The performance of MIGHTY EQUUS, a favourite for tonight's race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MIGHTY EQUUS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Z Purton was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of SPIRIT SOARING. He said in the Straight SPIRIT SOARING raced as though it may be experiencing some internal issues and he advised the connections accordingly. A veterinary inspection of SPIRIT SOARING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, SPIRIT SOARING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ABLE MAGIC had sustained superficial wounds to its left front leg. A veterinary inspection of TAI PO FORTUNE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MIGHTY EQUUS, WINNING MASCOT and RISING POWER were sent for sampling.