11/07/2018  Happy Valley  Race 4

WAH MAY BABY was withdrawn on 10.7.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left front foot). Before being allowed to race again, WAH MAY BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GOOD CHOICE AHEAD shifted out at the start and bumped SICHUAN BOSS which shifted out and bumped SPEEDY WALLY which at the same time received contact from WIN FOR CHARITY, which after beginning awkwardly, was taken in by STARLIT KNIGHT. From wide barriers, NEVER BETTER and FLYING QUEST were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1600 Metres, SICHUAN BOSS was steadied when crowded for room between SPEEDY WALLY (U Rispoli) which got its head on the side and lay in and GOOD CHOICE AHEAD (K C Leung) which shifted out. Both U Rispoli and K C Leung were advised to ensure that they took corrective measures at the earliest opportunity to prevent their horses from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. Passing the 1300 Metres, SPEEDY WALLY commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GO GO WIN. After the 900 Metres, SPEEDY WALLY was left racing wide and without cover. At the entrance to the Straight, GENTRY was awkwardly placed behind WIN FOR CHARITY. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he was asked, from a good barrier, to ride GOOD CHOICE AHEAD behind the speed if possible. He said after taking some time to clear GENTRY to his inside, he commenced to steady his mount passing the winning post on the first occasion to allow WIN FOR CHARITY to cross GOOD CHOICE AHEAD. He said however that WIN FOR CHARITY was then steadied by its rider and when that horse did not improve into the lead, GOOD CHOICE AHEAD commenced to travel keenly and he was initially not able to restrain the horse in an attempt to take a trailing position. He said when ELUSIVE STATE improved around GOOD CHOICE AHEAD after the 1200 Metres, he again steadied his mount to obtain a trailing position behind ELUSIVE STATE as that horse was being ridden to lead. He added after being crossed by ELUSIVE STATE, GOOD CHOICE AHEAD again commenced to prove difficult to settle and he had to check GOOD CHOICE AHEAD away from that horse. He said when he did this he was left with no alternative but to shift to the outside of ELUSIVE STATE as GOOD CHOICE AHEAD was clipping the heels of that horse. He said this resulted in GOOD CHOICE AHEAD having to race outside the lead and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon stated that he was instructed to bring FLYING QUEST to the outside of runners to make his run in the Home Straight. He said he was aware that STARLIT KNIGHT had raced three wide throughout the race and as he was following SICHUAN BOSS after the 500 Metres, a horse he considered to be a strong chance in the race, he elected to follow that horse through rounding the Home Turn as he believed that this horse would take him into the race. He said as STARLIT KNIGHT had been racing in a three wide position, he anticipated that that horse may weaken which would provide FLYING QUEST with the opportunity to shift to the outside of SICHUAN BOSS and make his run as instructed to the outside of runners. He added however rounding the Home Turn SICHUAN BOSS came under heavy pressure and did not finish off the race and accordingly he was obliged to shift to the inside of SICHUAN BOSS in an attempt to obtain clear running. He said when no runs opened up in front of FLYING QUEST, he was held up for clear running and it was not until after the 150 Metres that he was able to direct FLYING QUEST out from behind SPEEDY WALLY to obtain clear running. Apprentice Poon was advised that his explanation would be reported. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SICHUAN BOSS, J Moreira stated that, from barrier 4, it was anticipated that the horse would be able to take up a position in midfield or in advance of midfield. He said after being hampered on jumping, SICHUAN BOSS, despite being ridden along, was reluctant to improve its position between GOOD CHOICE AHEAD and SPEEDY WALLY. He said after striking interference after the 1600 Metres, this resulted in SICHUAN BOSS travelling further back in the field than had been anticipated. He added SICHUAN BOSS travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages, however, when placed under pressure rounding the Home Turn was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding and did not close off the race. The performance of SICHUAN BOSS, favourite for tonight’s race, which finished at the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SICHUAN BOSS 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 SICHUAN BOSS immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of WIN FOR CHARITY and ELUSIVE STATE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SICHUAN BOSS, CHARITY WINGS and STARLIT KNIGHT were sent for sampling.