15/06/2016  Happy Valley  Race 3

After being placed in the barriers, SPEEDY SANDY became fractious and lunged at the front gates, resulting in Apprentice K K Chiong being dislodged and SPEEDY SANDY leaving the barriers riderless and then galloping a circuit of the course. Acting on advice from the Veterinary Officer that SPEEDY SANDY was not suitable to race, that horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. This resulted in a delay to the start. Before being allowed to race again, SPEEDY SANDY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Apprentice Chiong was subsequently examined by the Club's medical officers and passed fit to fulfil her remaining race riding engagements. RAPIDASH began only fairly and then was hampered due to EMPEROR VICTORY shifting in after beginning awkwardly. From the outside barriers, PACKING STARCRAFT and WORKS OF ART were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Also from wide barriers, MUTUAL JOY and SOARING WYVERN were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. When being steadied to obtain cover in the early stages, APACHE SPIRIT got its head up on a number of occasions. Passing the 1150 Metres, EMPEROR VICTORY was steadied away from the heels of OCTAL LUCK which shifted out in order to relieve tightening to VERY RICH MAN which was racing in restricted room outside GLOBE TROTTER. After the 1100 Metres, OCTAL LUCK was steadied away from the heels of FREE NOVEMBER (C Schofield) which shifted in when not sufficiently clear. C Schofield was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in future. VERY RICH MAN, which was following OCTAL LUCK, was inconvenienced in consequence. For some distance after the 1000 Metres, VERY RICH MAN travelled very keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of GLOBE TROTTER. Then passing the 800 Metres, VERY RICH MAN, which was continuing to race ungenerously, shifted out away from the heels of GLOBE TROTTER. APACHE SPIRIT, which was following, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of VERY RICH MAN in consequence. Passing the 900 Metres, GLOBE TROTTER became unbalanced when being steadied away from the heels of FREE NOVEMBER. Passing the 800 Metres, EMPEROR VICTORY commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of OCTAL LUCK. When being steadied to shift back in behind OCTAL LUCK, EMPEROR VICTORY got its head up on a number of occasions. Approaching the 500 Metres, PACKING STARCRAFT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MUTUAL JOY. Passing the 100 Metres, the whip of C Y Ho (EMPEROR VICTORY) was momentarily caught behind Z Purton, the rider of APACHE SPIRIT. For the majority of the race, SOARING WYVERN travelled wide and without cover. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of O Bosson (SOARING WYVERN), 7th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse's finishing position, he was nonetheless reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels to the end of the race where circumstances permit. OCTAL LUCK, APACHE SPIRIT and EMPEROR VICTORY were sent for sampling.