30/04/2014  Happy Valley  Race 2

NAZAKAT’S LAD was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (head injury). Before being allowed to race again, NAZAKAT’S LAD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NATURAL EIGHT was slow to begin. LUCKY PIONEER stumbled at the start. DOUBLE MASTER was crowded for room at the start between NIGHTLIGN and NAMJONG BLOSSOMS which shifted in after beginning awkwardly. After this, DOUBLE MASTER was taken across behind runners in the early stages. From the outside barrier, FOREVER GENKI was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 800 Metres, NATURAL EIGHT became badly unbalanced when reluctant to maintain its position inside LUCKY PIONEER which got its head on the side and shifted in slightly. At the same stage, DOUBLE MASTER got its head up when being checked away from the heels of LUCKY PIONEER. DOUBLE MASTER lost its left front plate near the 800 Metres. Passing the 800 Metres, NAMJONG BLOSSOMS shifted in abruptly away from the heels of NIGHTLIGN which shifted in slightly. LUCKY PIONEER was momentarily steadied away from the heels of NAMJONG BLOSSOMS in consequence and DOUBLE MASTER, which was continuing to prove very difficult to settle, was checked away from the heels of LUCKY PIONEER. Approaching the 700 Metres, HEARTILY TALK, which was racing keenly, was steadied away from the heels of VICTORY GENERAL which shifted in when only just clear. Then approaching the 600 Metres, HEARTILY TALK, which continued to prove difficult to settle, shifted out away from the heels of VICTORY GENERAL. After the 500 Metres, VICTORY GENERAL got its head on the side and lay out. VICTORY GENERAL continued to lay out rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. Near the 400 Metres, HIGHLAND DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of OCEAN ROAR after being disappointed for running between that horse and VICTORY GENERAL. NAMJONG BLOSSOMS, which was following HIGHLAND DRAGON, was inconvenienced in consequence. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the view that an incident occurred passing the 100 Metres which cast doubt on whether HIGHLAND DRAGON should be declared the winner. The Stewards found that at this point NAMJONG BLOSSOMS, which had been laying in, was momentarily shifted out away from the heels of HIGHLAND DRAGON which shifted out at this time. After this, NAMJONG BLOSSOMS continued to lay in in the run to the finishing line and proved difficult to ride. As the Stewards were comfortably satisfied that the incident did not have a bearing on the final finishing positions of the respective horses, weighed-in was semaphored on the numbers declared by the Judge. Whilst it did not have any bearing on the Stewards’ decision, it should be noted that J Moreira, the rider of NAMJONG BLOSSOMS, after viewing the video, did not lodge a protest/objection in respect of this matter. Over the concluding stages, NIGHTLIGN got its head on the side and lay in under pressure. In the Straight, FOREVER GENKI raced greenly and shifted ground on a number of occasions. A veterinary inspection of DOUBLE MASTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HIGHLAND DRAGON and NAMJONG BLOSSOMS were sent for sampling.