25/11/2015  Happy Valley  Race 1

NATURAL EIGHT was withdrawn on 24.11.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter OUR HONOUR (B Prebble). Before being allowed to race again, NATURAL EIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY PROFIT shifted out at the start and bumped JADE PIPPO. THUNDERSTROKE, EAGLE KING and SKY FULL OF STARS were all badly crowded for room on jumping between JADE PIPPO and GOOD VIEW DELIGHTS which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. In this incident, JADE PIPPO became badly unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by SKY FULL OF STARS and LUCKY PROFIT was hampered when JADE PIPPO shifted in after becoming unbalanced. From wide barriers, GLORY BOY and DELIGHT FORTUNE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 900 Metres, KING OF SMARTS was left racing wide and without cover. At the 300 Metres, OUR HONOUR was shifted in away from the heels of JADE PIPPO. Near the 100 Metres, GOOD VIEW DELIGHTS was momentarily crowded for room between GLORY BOY and DELIGHT FORTUNE which shifted out. When questioned, Y T Cheng reported that it had been intended for THUNDERSTROKE to take up a forward position, however, after being crowded for room at the start, THUNDERSTROKE was always unbalanced and never travelled comfortably racing tonight at Happy Valley for the first occasion. A veterinary inspection of THUNDERSTROKE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on KING OF SMARTS at the request of Trainer D Cruz. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, KING OF SMARTS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY PROFIT, OUR HONOUR and NOVEL START were sent for sampling.