07/05/2014  Happy Valley  Race 2

After the horses were loaded, TOMODACHI kicked the back gates, resulting in a number of runners becoming fractious. PLAIN BLUE BANNER lunged at the front gates and sat down, resulting in its rider, T Berry, being dislodged. PLAIN BLUE BANNER then broke out under the front gates. In this incident, PLAIN BLUE BANNER lost its bridle and completed a number of circuits of the track as the horse proved difficult to recapture, resulting in a considerable delay to the start of the race. Acting on veterinary advice that PLAIN BLUE BANNER was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. KING DERBY and LYRIC ACE, which were in the adjoining stalls either side of that occupied by PLAIN BLUE BANNER, were examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion they were suitable to race. Having considered all the circumstances of this matter, the Stewards ruled that prior to their next race start PLAIN BLUE BANNER must undergo a satisfactory stalls test and be subjected to an official veterinary examination and TOMODACHI will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. T Berry was subsequently examined by the Club’s doctor and passed fit to fulfil his remaining riding engagements. FLYING RED was checked when crowded for room at the start between LYRIC ACE and EXCEL ONESELF which began awkwardly and shifted out abruptly. Shortly after the start, NEW PET shifted in and bumped LORD DRAGON. From a wide barrier, FRIENDS OF YAN OI was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover in the early stages. ALL TIMES LUCKY became unbalanced rounding the Home Turn. Near the 250 Metres, FLYING RED was shifted out away from the heels of EXCEL ONESELF after being disappointed for running inside that horse. M Chadwick (LORD DRAGON) dropped his whip near the 200 Metres. When questioned, H Bowman stated that he was a asked to shift HORSE SUPREMO, which had drawn barrier 12 and was having its first race start at Happy Valley, across behind runners in the early stages. He said he was advised the horse had been ridden from off the speed in a barrier trial in the lead up to tonight’s race as it had disappointed connections in its previous two starts at Sha Tin. He said in accordance with his instructions he shifted HORSE SUPREMO across behind runners in the early stages and the horse then raced greenly and was inclined to lay in. He said he attempted to balance the horse in an endeavour to have it travel better and this resulted in HORSE SUPREMO getting out of its ground in the early stages. He added he placed the horse under pressure after the 500 Metres and, in his opinion, it did not close off the race as strongly as anticipated. H Bowman was advised to ensure that he does not leave his horses with too much to do. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of EXCEL ONESELF, D Whyte stated that with the considerable delay to the start of this race, EXCEL ONESELF became stirred up and during the race travelled keenly after having to be ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said whilst EXCEL ONESELF was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LYRIC ACE rounding the Home Turn, he was able to obtain clear running at the entrance to the Straight, however, EXCEL ONESELF immediately came under pressure and did not finish off the race. He added, in his opinion, there were some excuses for its performance in that the horse did not settle after being required to stand behind the barriers for some time prior to the race. A veterinary inspection of EXCEL ONESELF immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. EXCEL ONESELF, KING DERBY and LORD DRAGON were sent for sampling.