17/05/2017  Happy Valley  Race 6

On arrival at the Start, it was noted that MASTER VIKING had lost its left front plate. After this plate was refitted, MASTER VIKING was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. After being slow to begin, WAH MAY BABY failed to show any speed in the early and middle stages despite being hard ridden and subsequently became detached from the field. A veterinary inspection of WAH MAY BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of WAH MAY BABY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WAH MAY BABY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. From a wide barrier, STARLIGHT was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. When being steadied to allow BUMBLE BABY to cross on the first turn at the 1000 Metres, VITAL SPRING got its head up and proved difficult to settle. VITAL SPRING continued to race ungenerously and had to be checked away from the heels of BUMBLE BABY soon after entering the Back Straight at the 900 Metres. When VITAL SPRING was checked, GOAL FOR GOLD, which was following, was steadied in consequence. SILVER SPUN, which was following GOAL FOR GOLD, was also checked and shifted out, resulting in FOX SUNTER being hampered. After the race, O Doleuze stated that VITAL SPRING, which was wearing blinkers for the first time, raced fiercely and was difficult to manage in the early and middle stages. After leaving the 700 Metres, GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS and SILVER SPUN raced tight as SILVER SPUN established a position one horse off the rail. This resulted in GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS racing wide and without cover from this stage of the race. Soon after straightening, VITAL SPRING was shifted in abruptly away from the heels of BUMBLE BABY to obtain clear running. GOAL FOR GOLD, which was racing to the inside of VITAL SPRING, was inconvenienced. After being unable to proceed into tight running between SIGHT SEEING and MASTER VIKING which shifted out under pressure near the 100 Metres, STARLIGHT was directed to the inside of the heels of MASTER VIKING to continue improving. Z Purton reported that SILVER SPUN felt awkward in its action after the race. A veterinary inspection of SILVER SPUN immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SILVER SPUN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of GOAL FOR GOLD and SIGHT SEEING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BUMBLE BABY, LOVE CHUNGHWA and STARLIGHT were sent for sampling.