08/07/2015  Happy Valley  Race 6

SUPER ABUNDANTE was withdrawn on 7.7.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BLOCKER DEE (A Suborics). Before being allowed to race again, SUPER ABUNDANTE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NORTHERN FALLS began only fairly. On jumping, BLOCKER DEE was crowded for room between RED KYLIN and FOREVER RED which began awkwardly and shifted out. This resulted in all three horses becoming badly unbalanced. RED KYLIN then shifted out and made heavy contact with the hindquarters of HELLA HEDGE which also became badly unbalanced. For some distance after this, FOREVER RED, BLOCKER DEE and RED KYLIN continued to race tight. BEAUTY KINGDOM shifted out abruptly on jumping, resulting in NITRO EXPRESS being hampered. Passing the 850 Metres, FOREVER RED got its head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider and made contact with the hindquarters of BEAUTY KINGDOM which became unbalanced and shifted out. FOREVER RED then was checked away from the heels of BEAUTY KINGDOM for some distance and blundered near the 800 Metres. Making the turn near the 500 Metres, FUN ‘N’ GAMES was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HELLA HEDGE. Near the 450 Metres, NORTHERN FALLS lost ground when crowded for room inside FOREVER RED (T H So) which got its head on the side and lay in away from BLOCKER DEE. As the Stewards were satisfied that T H So was making every endeavour to prevent his mount from shifting ground, no further action was taken. Shortly after entering the Straight, FUN ‘N’ GAMES was shifted in away from the heels of HELLA HEDGE which shifted out after being bumped by HAPPY METEOR. In the early part of the Straight, BLOCKER DEE lay out under pressure. At the 300 Metres, OVETT and RED KYLIN bumped as OVETT attempted to shift out from behind GENERAL IRON into clear running. OVETT then had difficulty obtaining clear running until after the 200 Metres. After the race, K C Leung (HARBOUR ALERT) reported that his saddle shifted to the right side making the turn near the 500 Metres, placing him at a disadvantage for the remainder of the race. Throughout the race, GENERAL IRON travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of HELLA HEDGE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPY METEOR and GENERAL IRON were sent for sampling.