08/04/2020  Happy Valley  Race 8

HONG KONG WIN was withdrawn on 7.4.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SEVEN HEAVENS (J Moreira). Before being allowed to race again, HONG KONG WIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, M F Poon expressed concern regarding the action of MR LUMIERES. A veterinary examination of MR LUMIERES found that horse suitable to race after the necessary consultations. LOVING A BOOM was slow to begin. HONG KONG BET shifted out at the start and bumped SAUL’S SPECIAL. From wide barriers, SEVEN HEAVENS, MR LUMIERES and CUE THE MUSIC were all steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Throughout the race, THIS IS CLASS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton (STRONGER) stated that rounding the Home Turn he was racing behind MOMENT OF POWER and inside THIS IS CLASS which was racing about a neck in advance of STRONGER. He said as THIS IS CLASS was travelling well rounding the Home Turn and he was not in a position to shift that horse out, shortly after entering the Straight he directed STRONGER to the inside of MOMENT OF POWER as at that time he felt that he was racing in advance of GENTLE BREEZE and which was more of a possibility for him to shift that horse in rather than to shift THIS IS CLASS out and improve between THIS IS CLASS and MOMENT OF POWER. He said as he committed to improve inside MOMENT OF POWER, that horse drifted in which resulted in him making contact with GENTLE BREEZE near the 250 Metres which maintained its position inside STRONGER and just to the outside of the heels of WINNER SUPREME. He said should he have continued to attempt to improve inside MOMENT OF POWER, this would have resulted in GENTLE BREEZE being forced across the heels of WINNER SUPREME and GENTLE BREEZE by this time was racing on level terms with STRONGER, therefore he was not able to continue to improve to the inside of MOMENT OF POWER which resulted in STRONGER having to check away from the heels of that horse. He added as a result of MOMENT OF POWER drifting in under pressure after the 300 Metres, this resulted in a run becoming available between that horse and THIS IS CLASS, however, he had already committed to attempting a run inside MOMENT OF POWER and at which stage he did so there was not a run available between MOMENT OF POWER and THIS IS CLASS. He said as a result of not being able to improve inside of MOMENT OF POWER, this resulted in STRONGER being badly held up for clear running until passing the 200 Metres. After considering Jockey Purton’s evidence and after viewing the videos, the Stewards accepted his evidence and took no further action. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that MR LUMIERES had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of GENTLE BREEZE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. STRONGER, THIS IS CLASS and LOVING A BOOM were sent for sampling.