16/03/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

When parading behind the barriers, WHO LOVES THE ACE’s right front plate shifted which required farrier attention. WHO LOVES THE ACE, which was fractious in the barriers, lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently was slow to begin. SMILING FACE began awkwardly and was then hampered by HUMBLE STEED which shifted out. ENJOY MY LIFE began only fairly and then was bumped by DIAMOND STAR which shifted out after being bumped by AMAZING BOY. From a wide barrier, PAKISTAN ZINDABAD was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. A Badel (MISTER ARM) reported that from the outside barrier it was intended for the horse to be ridden in a forward position tonight. He said however that on jumping MISTER ARM bumped the inside of its barrier stall which resulted in the horse beginning only fairly. MISTER ARM was then hampered by PAKISTAN ZINDABAD which shifted out. He said given the amount of work that he would have had to do on MISTER ARM to overcome these circumstances and obtain a forward position, he elected to shift the horse across behind runners and obtain a position closer to the rail. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, HEROIC CHAMPION was steadied when crowded for room inside ENJOY MY LIFE (K H Chan) which shifted in. K H Chan was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Approaching the 1200 Metres, ENJOY MY LIFE travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind FORTUNE WINNER. After the 1200 Metres, HEROIC CHAMPION was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 500 Metres, ANONYMA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SMILING FACE as that horse shifted to the outside of HUMBLE STEED. AMAZING BOY was held up for clear running near the 450 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn, HUMBLE STEED shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of SMILING FACE. Just prior to the winning post, SMILING FACE was shifted in away from the heels of DIAMOND STAR which lay in. Passing the winning post, FORTUNE WINNER was noted to be making an abnormal breathing noise. A veterinary inspection of FORTUNE WINNER immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. The performance of FORTUNE WINNER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FORTUNE WINNER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. The performance of ENJOY MY LIFE, which also finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ENJOY MY LIFE 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 WHO LOVES THE ACE, ENJOY MY LIFE and HEROIC CHAMPION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DIAMOND STAR and SMILING FACE were sent for sampling.