08/07/2020  Happy Valley  Race 8

Trainer T P Yung was fined the sum of $5,000 for incorrectly declaring B Shinn as the rider of DIAMOND BRILLIANT in this race when Z Purton had been booked to ride the horse. After being loaded into the barriers, ETERNAL HARVEST reared abruptly, resulting in its rider, C Y Ho, being dislodged. In this incident, ETERNAL HARVEST struck its head on the barrier structure. Acting on veterinary advice that ETERNAL HARVEST was not suitable to race, that horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Following the withdrawal of ETERNAL HARVEST, the Stewards ordered the field to be unloaded and the start of the race to be delayed. Before being allowed to race again, ETERNAL HARVEST will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, C Y Ho was examined by the Chief Medical Officer and passed fit to fulfil his remaining race riding engagement. COBY OPPA began only fairly and then was steadied away from the heels of EXPLOSIVE WITNESS which was taken in by DIAMOND BRILLIANT. Shortly after the start ORION PATCH which, after initially being taken out by GRATEFUL HEART which got its head on the side, then shifted out and away from that horse. Near the 850 Metres, BE READY was steadied away from the heels of CALIFORNIA ARCHER which got its head on the side and lay in away from G UNIT. Passing the 800 Metres, CANTSTOPTHEFEELING shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of GRATEFUL HEART. Passing the 650 Metres, CANTSTOPTHEFEELING was steadied away from the heels of GRATEFUL HEART which shifted out. Making the turn near the 550 Metres, EXPLOSIVE WITNESS raced tight outside AEROZOOM which lay out. Close to the finishing line, AEROZOOM became unbalanced in its action. When questioned regarding his riding of GRATEFUL HEART, M F Poon stated that he was instructed to either obtain the lead or to sit outside the lead on GRATEFUL HEART if possible. He said he rode his mount positively for some distance in the early stages, however, GRATEFUL HEART did not show sufficient speed to be able to be as prominent as instructed and approaching the 600 Metres was left racing three wide and without cover. He said making the turn near the 550 Metres GRATEFUL HEART got its head on the side and hung out which resulted in the horse shifting wide. He said he placed pressure on the inside rein of GRATEFUL HEART in an endeavour to assist it to turn better and he was reluctant to take stronger action as he was of the view that GRATEFUL HEART would hang out worse were he to be more forceful. He said GRATEFUL HEART continued to hang out rounding the Home Turn and during this stage the horse’s action deteriorated. He said after balancing up GRATEFUL HEART in the early part of the Straight, the horse’s action did not improve and as he had concerns regarding how GRATEFUL HEART felt, he elected to ease the horse down over the final 250 Metres. He added on return to the unsaddling area GRATEFUL HEART remained uncomfortable in its action and he reported this and the fact that the horse had hung out to the trainer. A veterinary inspection of GRATEFUL HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. M F Poon was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have made a more concerted effort rounding the turn to prevent his mount from shifting out. Having regard to Jockey Poon’s explanation as well as the previous racing history of GRATEFUL HEART, the Stewards ruled that the horse must undergo a series of consecutive barrier trials around a bend and be subjected to an official veterinary examination prior to being permitted to race again. A veterinary inspection of AEROZOOM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DIAMOND BRILLIANT, EXPLOSIVE WITNESS and CALIFORNIA ARCHER were sent for sampling. <9/7/2020 Additional Veterinary Report>The Veterinary Surgeon reported that EXPLOSIVE WITNESS was lame in its left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, EXPLOSIVE WITNESS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AEROZOOM, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said at that time there were no significant findings. AEROZOOM was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer D J Whyte this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, AEROZOOM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that BE READY was lame in its right front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, BE READY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.