25/02/2015  Happy Valley  Race 8

AFFLUENCE OF RAIN proved difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, AFFLUENCE OF RAIN will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. After being loaded, RISING FAST became fractious. Before being allowed to race again, RISING FAST will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. SEA WARRIOR and MR GINGER were crowded for room on jumping between TANGO FIRE and AFFLUENCE OF RAIN which shifted out. FLYING TOURBILLION was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Making the turn after the 1100 Metres, GREAT RUN and AFFLUENCE OF RAIN raced tight due to GREAT RUN getting its head on the side and shifting out when racing keenly. After this, GREAT RUN continued to race keenly. ORIENTAL PROSPER travelled wide and without cover until making the turn after the 600 Metres. Over the final 100 Metres, FLYING TOURBILLION raced tight inside HONG KONG DANCER which improved into tight running inside MR GINGER approaching the 100 Metres. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of TANGO FIRE, J Moreira stated that, from barrier 5, it was expected that TANGO FIRE would be able to obtain a position behind the speed and close to the running rail in the early stages. He said TANGO FIRE began very well which resulted in the horse being in a prominent position in the early stages. He said when a number of runners were ridden forward inside TANGO FIRE in the early stages, he attempted to ride his mount along to clear those horses, however, they continued to maintain their positions to the inside of TANGO FIRE and making the turn near the 1000 Metres TANGO FIRE was left racing in a five wide position without cover. He said it was no longer available for him to continue riding forward due to the manner in which other horses drawn more favourably were ridden, therefore he elected to steady TANGO FIRE and obtain a position with cover closer to the rail. He said as soon as he positioned TANGO FIRE behind other runners near the 900 Metres, the horse immediately came off the bridle and he had to ride it aggressively along the Back Straight in an endeavour to maintain its position. He said TANGO FIRE never travelled at any stage of the race and came under heavy pressure near the 500 Metres. He added, despite being ridden out rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight, TANGO FIRE was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding and weakened in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of TANGO FIRE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, TANGO FIRE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SEA WARRIOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MR GINGER, ORIENTAL PROSPER and HONG KONG DANCER were sent for sampling.