06/07/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

SEE U AGAIN was withdrawn on 5.7.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). Before being allowed to race again, SEE U AGAIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CALIFORNIA FOREST began awkwardly and lost ground. FINGERS CROSSED and SUPER CLASS bumped at the start. FINGERS CROSSED was then crowded for room between SUPER CLASS and VIVA MAMA (M F Poon) which shifted out. This resulted in all three horses becoming unbalanced. Following the race, M F Poon stated that after this incident he had to ride VIVA MAMA along for some distance to maintain a forward position and then was not able to cross runners to his inside prior to the first turn which resulted in VIVA MAMA racing three wide and without cover throughout. He said VIVA MAMA then came under heavy pressure prior to the Home Turn and gave ground in the Straight which he attributed to the horse’s tough run tonight. From the outside barrier, PRECIOUS CHOICE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 850 Metres, TIMESTORM and MOMENTUM GALAXY raced tight. Passing the 600 Metres, PRECIOUS CHOICE shifted in and bumped FINGERS CROSSED. After the 600 Metres, CALIFORNIA FOREST became unbalanced of its own accord and shifted in towards the running rail. Passing the 50 Metres, MOMENTUM GALAXY shifted in and brushed SERGEANT PEPPER. Prior to the declaration of weighed-in, the Stewards viewed the video of this incident to establish if any grounds for a protest/objection existed on behalf of the connections of SERGEANT PEPPER. Having regard to the manner in which the two horses finished the race off in the Straight and the light contact between them close to the finishing line, no further action was taken. A veterinary inspection of VIVA MAMA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MOMENTUM GALAXY and SERGEANT PEPPER were sent for sampling.