01/06/2016  Happy Valley  Race 2

MIGHTY EQUUS was withdrawn on 31.5.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FORZA AVANTI (Apprentice H N Wong). Before being allowed to race again, MIGHTY EQUUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CONFUCIUS SPIRIT and BORN TO RACE bumped on jumping and again shortly after the start. SOCKET KING began only fairly. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, FORZA AVANTI was slow to muster speed. Passing the 1100 Metres, RESPLENDENT GLORY got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of CONFUCIUS SPIRIT (G Lerena) which shifted in when not properly clear. G Lerena was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, BEAR RAPPER shifted in and brushed the running rail. Near the 300 Metres, CONFUCIUS SPIRIT was shifted in away from the heels of EVERYDAY LETTUCE which was giving ground. Near the 250 Metres, RESPLENDENT GLORY was shifted to the inside of MASSIVE MOVE after being disappointed for running between that horse and CONFUCIUS SPIRIT which shifted in. After attempting to improve into tight running between MASSIVE MOVE and HAR HAR CHARMING, RESPLENDENT GLORY was then steadied near the 150 Metres and shifted to the outside of MASSIVE MOVE when disappointed for running between that horse which shifted in and HAR HAR CHARMING. Over the concluding stages, HAR HAR CHARMING was steadied when crowded for room inside MASSIVE MOVE (Y T Cheng) which shifted in marginally. Y T Cheng was advised to exercise more care. Throughout the race, EVERYDAY LETTUCE travelled wide and without cover. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if RESPLENDENT GLORY had been afforded a fair start. After taking evidence from Z Purton, the rider of RESPLENDENT GLORY and Mr A Speechley, Deputy Starter, who started this race and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that after being placed in the barriers RESPLENDENT GLORY became fractious and attempted to sit down. After this, RESPLENDENT GLORY then turned its head initially to the left and then just prior to the start being effected turned its head to the right despite the attempts of the starting gate handler to straighten its head which resulted in the horse being slow to begin. As the Stewards formed the opinion that RESPLENDENT GLORY's barrier manners were the reason for the horse being slow to begin and that there were no external factors affecting the horse's ability to begin with the field, they found that RESPLENDENT GLORY had been afforded a fair start and accordingly that horse was deemed to be a runner. The Stewards ruled that RESPLENDENT GLORY, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong tonight, will be required to pass a stalls test prior to its next race start. A veterinary inspection of SOCKET KING immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer" which had previously been reported. BEAR RAPPER and KIROV were sent for sampling.