15/02/2017  Happy Valley  Race 6

BORN IN CHINA was withdrawn on 14.2.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, BORN IN CHINA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ALMABABY began very awkwardly and shifted in, resulting in ARCHIPPUS being steadied away from the heels of that horse. After this, ARCHIPPUS got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied to obtain cover. APOLLO’S CHOICE and LUCKY YEAR bumped at the start. LUCKY YEAR then shifted out and bumped KEY WITNESS. From a wide barrier, COUNTRY MELODY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. HAPPY SURVEYS was also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. MOLLY’S JADE STAR, from the outside barrier, was ridden along for a considerable distance in the early stages to obtain a forward position and raced wide and without cover until after the 800 Metres. Making the first turn near the 1050 Metres, APOLLO’S CHOICE was crowded for room between BLOCKER DEE and LUCKY YEAR which, after shifting in, then got its head on the side and shifted in further away from ALMABABY. Approaching the 1000 Metres, STRATHMORE shifted in and bumped ALMABABY. When the tempo of the race steadied after the 600 Metres, APOLLO’S CHOICE was checked away from the heels of BLOCKER DEE. LUCKY YEAR, which was racing outside APOLLO’S CHOICE, then raced in restricted room between that horse and STRATHMORE which got its head on the side and lay in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ALMABABY. ARCHIPPUS, which was following, got its head up for some distance when being checked away from the heels of LUCKY YEAR. Then passing the 500 Metres, LUCKY YEAR momentarily raced in restricted room between APOLLO’S CHOICE which continued to be awkwardly placed close to the heels of BLOCKER DEE and STRATHMORE which continued to lay in. In this incident, APOLLO’S CHOICE became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by LUCKY YEAR. Passing the 400 Metres, KEY WITNESS shifted out after being checked away from the heels of STRATHMORE. At the entrance to the Straight, ARCHIPPUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LUCKY YEAR. Passing the 200 Metres, ARCHIPPUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ALMABABY when being shifted out from behind that horse to obtain clear running. After the race, it was reported that ALMABABY had bled from both nostrils. BLOCKER DEE and SEA JADE were sent for sampling.