08/09/2019  Shatin  Race 8

CALIFORNIA ARCHER began only fairly. YEE CHEONG BABY shifted out at the start and bumped ELUSIVE STATE. From a wide barrier, DRAGON GENERAL was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. In the early stages, LOVING A BOOM was steadied to obtain cover. After racing wide and without cover, PICK NUMBER ONE shifted out rounding the Home Turn and bumped RAGING BLITZKRIEG, causing both horses to become unbalanced. After the race, G van Niekerk reported that after becoming unbalanced in this incident, PICK NUMBER ONE did not feel comfortable in its action in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of PICK NUMBER ONE immediately following the race confirmed that horse to be a 'roarer” which had previously been reported. Throughout the race, both LIMITLESS and RAGING BLITZKRIEG travelled wide and without cover. The performance of LIMITLESS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LIMITLESS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. C Schofield (SUNNY BOY) was fined $5,000 for improper use of the whip in that he raised weal marks over the horse’s right flank. After the race, Z Purton reported that after having to ride YEE CHEONG BABY along to lead, the horse appeared to travel satisfactorily in the middle stages, however, came under pressure in the early part of the Straight and did not finish off the race as strongly as it had in its previous starts at Happy Valley. He said the manner in which YEE CHEONG BABY did not finish off the race indicated to him that it did not handle the pressure of today’s race when racing on the All Weather Track for the first time. A veterinary inspection of YEE CHEONG BABY 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, YEE CHEONG BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. YEE CHEONG BABY, BIG TIME BABY and ELUSIVE STATE were sent for sampling.