21/06/2017  Happy Valley  Race 2

PLAIN BLUE BANNER and ALWAYS WONGCHOY bumped at the start. WINNING VIBE, which was being steadied, was crowded for room on jumping between PLANET GIANT and ABLE TALENT which shifted out. GREAT SKY shifted in at the start and bumped the hindquarters of FUN MANAGER. After this, from a wide barrier, GREAT SKY was shifted across behind runners. After travelling a short distance, ABLE TALENT and LETSGOFREE bumped. Near the 1150 Metres, GOBI STORM and SPICY DOUBLE bumped. After the 700 Metres, WINNING VIBE travelled wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, GO-GETTER raced tight inside PLANET GIANT which got its head on the side and lay in. Rounding the Home Turn, FUN MANAGER shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of LETSGOFREE. When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon stated that he had been asked to ride PLANET GIANT positively in the early stages and lead if possible or if the rider of another horse was intent on leading, to sit outside that horse. He said, despite being vigorously ridden for a considerable distance in the early stages, PLANET GIANT did not have sufficient speed to prevent GOBI STORM from crossing his mount approaching the 1300 Metres and consequently was not able to lead or sit outside the leader. When questioned, C Murray stated that he had been asked to ride SPICY DOUBLE in a forward position from the outside barrier and try to obtain a position behind the leaders. He said when SPICY DOUBLE was left racing wide after the 1300 Metres, he then allowed it to continue forward rather than remaining racing in a three wide position. He said after obtaining a position outside GOBI STORM near the 1100 Metres, he attempted to steady his mount and race outside that horse, however, SPICY DOUBLE, after being ridden along in the early stages to take up a forward position, travelled keenly. He said after the 1000 Metres he improved forward of GOBI STORM with a view to crossing that horse and was able to obtain about a three quarter length margin over GOBI STORM. He said SPICY DOUBLE however was only travelling fairly at this stage and he believed that he would have had to make further use of his mount to go forward of GOBI STORM even though it appeared that the rider of that horse seemed content to take a trailing position behind SPICY DOUBLE. He said for this reason he remained racing outside GOBI STORM rather than pushing forward into the lead. He added after the 700 Metres SPICY DOUBLE came under heavy pressure and then finished off the race only fairly in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of GOBI STORM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of GOBI STORM, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, GOBI STORM will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of WINNING VIBE immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a small wound to the right hind fetlock. A veterinary inspection of GO-GETTER and ALWAYS WONGCHOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LETSGOFREE and PLANET GIANT were sent for sampling. <22/6/2017 Additional Veterinary Report>GOBI STORM, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said at that time there were no significant findings. GOBI STORM was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer A S Cruz this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg. As previously advised, GOBI STORM will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.