11/02/2015  Happy Valley  Race 4

WHISTLE BLOWER and TOMODACHI bumped heavily at the start. JOLLY SPRING was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From the outside barriers, RAY OF GOLD and FOREVER FUN were also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1100 Metres, U Rispoli (YOU ARE THE ONE) adjusted his left foot in the iron. Near the 650 Metres, YOU ARE THE ONE got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of JOYEUX (C Y Ho) which, after crossing to the lead, steadied the tempo. MELLIFLUENT and EASTERN PROMISE, which were following YOU ARE THE ONE, were inconvenienced in consequence. C Y Ho was warned against the practice of steadying his mounts too abruptly in the lead. After the 600 Metres, FOTOGENIC travelled wide and without cover. Passing the 500 Metres, OUR HONOUR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FOTOGENIC. Approaching the 400 Metres, GRIMMY raced close to the heels of OUR HONOUR. After the 300 Metres, YOU ARE THE ONE got its head on the side and shifted in. Passing the 250 Metres, GRIMMY momentarily raced in restricted room between OUR HONOUR and FOTOGENIC which shifted out marginally. When questioned, M Guyon stated that as he had been advised that OUR HONOUR had not finished off its races when pressured in the early stages, he was asked to ride the horse in about a midfield position or slightly worse if possible. He said for this reason after the 900 Metres he did not improve his position to prevent FOTOGENIC from shifting ground in front of OUR HONOUR as he felt that he would have had to ride it along at this time to do so which, having in mind his instructions, would not have been in the horse’s best interests. When questioned, U Rispoli stated that he had been instructed to lead on YOU ARE THE ONE if possible. He said making the turn into the Back Straight after the 900 Metres there were a number of horses positioned to the outside of YOU ARE THE ONE being ridden to take up forward positions including JOYEUX which he knew to be lightly weighted as comparison to YOU ARE THE ONE which was carrying top weight. He said as the tempo of the race along the Back Straight was good, he did not want to become engaged in a speed battle with JOYEUX and therefore allowed that horse to cross YOU ARE THE ONE after the 700 Metres. He said he was of the opinion at the time that had he have ridden YOU ARE THE ONE to maintain the lead, the horse may not have been able to close off its race, nonetheless it was disappointing as it failed to quicken in the Straight and compounded. A veterinary inspection of YOU ARE THE ONE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of EASTERN PROMISE and WHISTLE BLOWER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MELLIFLUENT and JOYEUX were sent for sampling. <12/2/2015 Additional Veterinary Report>The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that RAY OF GOLD was lame in its right hind leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, RAY OF GOLD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.