23/03/2014  Shatin  Race 3

OPTIMISM was withdrawn on 22.3.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HAPPEN FOR REASON (N Callan). Before being allowed to race again, OPTIMISM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Jockeys N Callan and J Moreira (STAG KNIGHT) were reprimanded for arriving late into the Parade Ring for this race. After being loaded, RED COURAGE was fractious and reared on a number of occasions. RED COURAGE was then ridden along after the start, however, failed to muster speed. From the outside barrier, EVER SHINY was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Throughout the race, STAG KNIGHT travelled wide and without cover. STAG KNIGHT lost its right front plate after the finishing line. When questioned, B Prebble stated that he rode ALLEY-OOP in its final track gallop on the morning of Thursday, 20 March 2014 on the 1800 Metre gallop and, in his opinion, this work was the horse’s best when he had ridden it. He said after beginning fairly today, ALLEY-OOP was bumped by RED COURAGE shortly after the start and he immediately became concerned with the horse’s action. He said ALLEY-OOP did not stretch out in the early stages and he gave consideration to easing it out of the race, however, as its action improved slightly, he elected to continue to ride the horse along. He added, despite being placed under heavy pressure, ALLEY-OOP did not make up any significant ground. A veterinary inspection of ALLEY-OOP immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. The performance of ALLEY-OOP was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ALLEY-OOP will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of RED COURAGE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. STAG KNIGHT, GOLDEN GUNNERS and VARA PEARL were sent for sampling.