12/02/2014  Happy Valley  Race 5

JACK’S GEM was withdrawn on 11.2.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter OYSTER (W M Lai). Before being allowed to race again, JACK’S GEM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HOLY MAC was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (left hind limb infection). Before being allowed to race again, HOLY MAC will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LITTLE RAINFOREST began awkwardly and lost ground. Then when being ridden along in the early stages to improve its position, LITTLE RAINFOREST was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER TEAM. YOUNG TALENT began awkwardly. DRAGON PINS began awkwardly and despite being ridden along in the early stages failed to muster speed. From the outside barrier, HO WONGCHOY was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, SUPER TEAM got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOOD LUCK WIN. Near the 1300 Metres, YOUNG TALENT was steadied after racing in restricted room between DRAGON PINS and PANTHER RUN for some distance. YOUNG TALENT had difficulty obtaining clear running for some distance after the 200 Metres. Over the concluding stages, SUPER TEAM was awkwardly placed inside the heels of PANTHER RUN which got its head on the side and lay in under pressure. When questioned regarding his riding of EXPECTATOR, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed, from barrier 11, to attempt to obtain a position in midfield or slightly ahead of midfield with cover if possible. He said after beginning well, he shifted his mount across with PLAIN RED BANNER which was being ridden into a forward position. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion he attempted to shift in to the three wide position outside and behind GOOD LUCK WIN, however, LITTLE RAINFOREST, which had been tardy to begin, was being ridden along to his inside and he was unable to shift in further as he would have caused interference to LITTLE RAINFOREST. He said therefore rather than ride his mount along and obtain a forward position, he elected to allow LITTLE RAINFOREST to improve its position underneath EXPECTATOR and he had hoped that he would be able to obtain a three wide position with cover behind that horse. He added however that after the 1200 Metres it became apparent to him that LITTLE RAINFOREST was being ridden to obtain a position outside the lead and rather than ride his mount along to go forward with that horse and risk being left racing three wide without cover, he elected to ease EXPECTATOR and hopefully obtain a position with cover behind the eventual winner, PANTHER RUN. He said when he did this, YOUNG TALENT maintained its position inside EXPECTATOR and behind PANTHER RUN which resulted in EXPECTATOR remaining three wide without cover. He said he rode his mount along after the 1100 Metres with a view to seeing if he could shift YOUNG TALENT in, however, that horse maintained its position which resulted in EXPECTATOR continuing to race without cover. He said rather than remain racing three wide, he elected to ease his mount further and take up a position behind YOUNG TALENT. He said this resulted in EXPECTATOR racing further back in the field than had been anticipated but with cover. D Whyte stated that the circumstances of tonight’s race and in particular LITTLE RAINFOREST being ridden along to the inside of EXPECTATOR had resulted in EXPECTATOR not being able to be ridden as forward as had been hoped. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SUPER TEAM at the request of Trainer A T Millard. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination SUPER TEAM showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER TEAM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of LITTLE RAINFOREST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. SUPER TEAM, HO WONGCHOY, PANTHER RUN and OYSTER were sent for sampling.