07/01/2009  Happy Valley  Race 3

After being boxed, ROYAL PORTRAIT became fractious, initially endeavoured to break through underneath the front gate of its stall and then sat down behind. ROYAL PORTRAIT was removed from its stall and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. When ROYAL PORTRAIT became fractious, the left foot of K T Yeung, its rider, was pinned against the barrier, causing him some discomfort. While ROYAL PORTRAIT was being examined by the Veterinary Officer, the discomfort to K T Yeung's foot subsided and he said he was able to ride the horse. Before being allowed to race again, ROYAL PORTRAIT will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. BATURO, which had also been very fractious in its stall, began awkwardly, stumbled, shifted out and bumped SWEET BABY. Before being allowed to race again, BATURO will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. On jumping, TRAVEL LEADER, which began awkwardly, lost ground after being bumped by OCTAGONAL CANYON. After the 1200 Metres, GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY was left racing wide and without cover. After entering the Back Straight, GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY was carried wider by SOARING DRAGON which itself was steadied and carried wider by DASHING CHAMPION which after being crossed by ROYAL PORTRAIT commenced to over-race and shifted out. Approaching the 400 Metres, OCTAGONAL CANYON and SWEET BABY were tightened for room inside SOARING DRAGON which commenced to give ground. At the 350 Metres, SOARING DRAGON, which was continuing to give ground, was checked when awkwardly placed between SWEET BABY and GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. When SOARING DRAGON checked, EVERGREEN and TRAVEL LEADER, which were following, were checked and shifted out to avoid the heels of that horse. Over the final 200 Metres, GALAXEE hung in and proved difficult to ride. When questioned, W M Lai (DASHING CHAMPION) said he had been instructed to ride the horse in the box seat as he had done at the horse's most recent start. He said DASHING CHAMPION began well, he went forward, crossed to the fence and then attempted to steady his mount. He said when he did this, DASHING CHAMPION commenced to race keenly. He said while the tempo of the race was only moderate, passing the 1100 Metres he continued to steady DASHING CHAMPION to allow ROYAL PORTRAIT to go forward, cross to the fence and provide him with cover which that horse did on entering the Back Straight. He said DASHING CHAMPION initially gave the feel that it would relax with cover, however, shortly afterwards commenced to over-race, was close to the heels of ROYAL PORTRAIT and because of this he shifted to the outside of that runner. W M Lai was told in the circumstances of tonight's race consideration ought to have been given to maintaining the lead on the rail. Z Purton (SOARING DRAGON) said he had been instructed to ride his mount behind the lead with cover if possible. He said SOARING DRAGON was successful at its last start leading throughout. He said Mr Moore, the trainer of SOARING DRAGON, advised him he felt the tempo of tonight's race might be stronger than when SOARING DRAGON last raced and if use was made of the horse to go forward and lead when it was stepping up in distance to 1800 Metres and carrying an additional 10 lbs from when it last raced, it might fail to finish the race off. He said in the early stages he went forward in accordance with his instructions and felt that the tempo of the race in the initial stages was solid. He said he was required to make some use of SOARING DRAGON in the early stages to cross runners to his inside and he then noticed BATURO being hard ridden to maintain its position on the rail. He said when DASHING CHAMPION crossed to the lead, he immediately steadied SOARING DRAGON to remain racing outside BATURO. He said when ROYAL PORTRAIT improved into the lead after the 1200 Metres, he considered allowing SOARING DRAGON to go forward and race on the outside of DASHING CHAMPION, however, he noticed that horse was commencing to race keenly and felt it would shift away from the rail, resulting in him being obliged to travel three wide. He said because of this after entering the Back Straight when DASHING CHAMPION did shift away from the rail, he allowed that runner to go forward and elected to take a sit following the leaders to avoid being caught racing wide and without cover. SOARING DRAGON was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. After the race, SOARING DRAGON was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said the horse was displaying an irregular heart beat. Before being permitted to race again, SOARING DRAGON will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ROYAL PORTRAIT and GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY were sent for an official veterinary inspection. Also after the race, ROYAL PORTRAIT was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY after the race did not show any significant findings. NASA PEARL and BATURO were sent for sampling.