08/11/2017  Happy Valley  Race 8

CONVINCIBLE, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 7.11.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (right front tendon injury). Before being allowed to race again, CONVINCIBLE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, it was noted that PERPETUAL TREASURE had blood at its mouth. PERPETUAL TREASURE was examined by the Veterinary Office who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. BORN IN CHINA was crowded for room on jumping between SPOTLIGHT DREAM and PABLOSKY which shifted out. From wide barriers, ARCHIPPUS, BLOCKER DEE and DRAGON GENERAL were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After initially being ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position, STRATHMORE was left racing wide making the turn near the 1000 Metres and was then steadied to obtain cover. Shortly after entering the Straight, BLOCKER DEE was shifted to the inside of CALIFORNIA WHIP to obtain clear running. DRAGON GENERAL, which was following BLOCKER DEE, was shifted in away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Near the 50 Metres, ARCHIPPUS commenced to shift in under pressure, resulting in its rider having to stop riding and straighten. Throughout the race, PERPETUAL TREASURE (M L Yeung) travelled wide and without cover. After the race, M L Yeung expressed concern regarding the action of PERPETUAL TREASURE. A veterinary inspection of PERPETUAL TREASURE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, PERPETUAL TREASURE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, C Schofield stated that he was asked to make use of the inside barrier and have STARLIGHT as close as possible without having to ride his mount hard. He said he rode his mount along in the early stages to ensure that STARLIGHT was able to take up a forward position and passing the 1000 Metres was racing just to the inside of the heels of BORN IN CHINA. He said he had hoped to maintain this position, however, when a margin opened up between his mount and HOUSE OF FUN, the horse that he was following, he believed that he would have had to ride his mount aggressively in order to obtain a position closer behind HOUSE OF FUN so as to prevent BORN IN CHINA being able to cross STARLIGHT. He added he therefore allowed BORN IN CHINA to cross STARLIGHT as it would have been contrary to his instructions to ride his mount along at this time. He said in the early part of the Straight he was able to shift STARLIGHT away from behind BORN IN CHINA, however, the horse finished off the race only fairly. A veterinary inspection of PABLOSKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. STARLIGHT, BORN IN CHINA and ARCHIPPUS were sent for sampling.