06/04/2023  Happy Valley  Race 3

PACKING MONKEYKING jumped awkwardly, shifted in and brushed GANG OF BROTHERS. BELL OF HAPPINESS was slow to begin. TELECOM CHEETAH jumped awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with the hindquarters of PEAK TO PEAK, resulting in PEAK TO PEAK then shifting in and crowding TELECOM CHEETAH. FEARLESS FIRE jumped awkwardly and despite being ridden along in the early stages failed to show sufficient pace to hold a more forward position. KING OF THE COURT blundered shortly after the start. In the early stages, SUPER BUDDY was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. BABY raced keenly in the early stages and near the 1000 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from READY PLAYER ONE. BABY was then obliged to race wide and without cover for the remainder of the event. READY PLAYER ONE raced keenly in the middle stages. V CHEVALIERS was held up making the Home Turn. V CHEVALIERS then had difficulty obtaining clear running when being shifted to the outside of PEAK TO PEAK between the 300 Metres and the 250 Metres. Approaching the 300 Metres, FEARLESS FIRE shifted out and away from V CHEVALIERS after being crowded between RIVER VIEWS and V CHEVALIERS which shifted out, resulting in FEARLESS FIRE making contact with the hindquarters of RIVER VIEWS and becoming unbalanced. PACKING MONKEYKING had difficulty obtaining clear running for some distance near the 300 Metres when positioned behind READY PLAYER ONE. When placed under pressure near the 200 Metres, PEAK TO PEAK shifted in before being corrected by its rider, C Y Ho. Passing the 150 Metres, READY PLAYER ONE raced tight to the inside of GANG OF BROTHERS which shifted in. After the race, C L Chau (RIVER VIEWS) stated that his instructions were to hold a forward position, but when caught wide in the early stages and with the strong early pace, he was obliged to come back on his mount to obtain cover in an attempt to avoid racing wide. Also after the race, L Hewitson (KING OF THE COURT) stated that he had to make some use of his mount to hold the lead in the early stages, however, KING OF THE COURT failed to respond to his riding in the Straight and raced in a disappointing manner. A veterinary inspection of KING OF THE COURT immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. The performance of KING OF THE COURT, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, KING OF THE COURT 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 BABY and PACKING MONKEYKING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GANG OF BROTHERS and V CHEVALIERS were sent for sampling.