07/06/2017  Happy Valley  Race 6

VICTORY MACHINE began very awkwardly and lost a considerable amount of ground at the start and then for the majority of the race was detached from the field. A veterinary inspection of VICTORY MACHINE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of VICTORY MACHINE was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, VICTORY MACHINE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PACKING STONES began only fairly. WAYFOONG VINNIE shifted in at the start and bumped PEACE N PROSPERITY. From the outside barrier, RIGHT HONOURABLE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Near the 850 Metres, WAYFOONG VINNIE proved very difficult to settle and for some distance approaching and passing the 800 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of BACK IN BLACK. Passing the 600 Metres, THE SUPREME was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PACKING STONES. In the early part of the Straight, PACKING STONES was awkwardly placed outside the heels of BACK IN BLACK which shifted out to obtain clear running. Passing the 250 Metres, JOLLY CONVERGENCE raced tight inside TIMELY ARRIVED. For the majority of the race, PACKING STONES travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Murray, the rider of MOST BEAUTIFUL, stated that he had been asked to ride the horse quietly in the early stages from barrier 10. Mr C S Shum, the trainer of MOST BEAUTIFUL, will be interviewed regarding the instructions he provided to Jockey Murray prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 11 June 2017. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that TIMELY ARRIVED had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of PACKING STONES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PRINCE HARMONY and JOLLY CONVERGENCE were sent for sampling. <11/6/2017 7 June 2017 Happy Valley Racemeeting-Race 6 (712)>The Stewards today questioned Mr C S Shum, the trainer of MOST BEAUTIFUL, regarding the instructions he provided to C Murray prior to this race. Mr Shum stated that MOST BEAUTIFUL regularly goes forward in its races, however, it had to be ridden along to do so in a number of starts and because of this was not able to finish off its races as well as it had been hoped. He said having drawn barrier 10 in this race and because there were a number of horses which were better drawn than MOST BEAUTIFUL and which had previously shown early speed in their races, he felt that were MOST BEAUTIFUL to be ridden along from the wide barrier, there was a likelihood that the horse would be left racing wide and without cover, therefore he asked Jockey Murray to steady MOST BEAUTIFUL in the early stages and obtain cover. He added whilst it is his preference for MOST BEAUTIFUL to be ridden in a forward position, he believed that the circumstances of this race would have made it difficult for MOST BEAUTIFUL to finish off the race were it to be ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position.