05/01/2011  Happy Valley  Race 1

ROYAL PORTRAIT was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (became distressed when proving difficult to load on the horse transport from Sha Tin). Before being allowed to race again, ROYAL PORTRAIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Acting on an assurance from Trainer L Ho that ROYAL PORTRAIT would not be entered to run in races conducted at Happy Valley Racecourse in future, no further action was taken. As the start was effected, MAGIC KING, which had been fractious in the barriers, reared and consequently lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, MAGIC KING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. METRO RIDER began awkwardly. GOLD JOINT was slow to begin and shortly after the start was crowded for room between KING CREOLE and INFALLIBLE CHOICE which shifted in. Near the 800 Metres, GOLD JOINT was awkwardly placed close to the heel of SEIZE THE DAY. VALUE CHOICE was left racing wide and without cover after the 600 Metres. GOLD JOINT had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Apprentice K C Leung (MAGIC KING) dropped his whip near the 250 Metres. Near the 200 Metres, PLANET, which was commencing to give ground, was checked when crowded for room between KING CREOLE which shifted out to obtain clear running to the outside of INFALLIBLE CHOICE and SEIZE THE DAY (T Angland) which, after being bumped by VALUE CHOICE (G Mossé), shifted in and away from that horse. Both T Angland and G Mossé were advised to make every effort to prevent their mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Near the 50 Metres, SEIZE THE DAY shifted in and brushed KING CREOLE. When questioned, B Doyle (BLESS US ALL) stated that it was anticipated that tonight’s race would be run at a good tempo, therefore he was instructed to have the horse racing in a midfield position or slightly worse with cover if possible. He said although BLESS US ALL began very well tonight, he took hold of his mount in the early stages to ride it off the speed as he felt that horses which were better drawn would show superior pace in the early stages and even if he were to ride BLESS US ALL along, the horse would have been left racing wide and without cover. He said after shifting BLESS US ALL across behind runners in the early stages, he was not able to obtain a position with cover and consequently raced wide and without cover throughout the race. When questioned, Y T Cheng (THINK BIG) stated that he had been instructed to ride the horse in a midfield position if possible with cover. He said he rode THINK BIG along in the early stages to obtain a position in midfield, however, the pace of the race in the early stages was good and for this reason, despite being ridden along, THINK BIG was not able to obtain a position with cover in midfield as he had hoped and consequently raced near the rear of the field. A veterinary inspection of THINK BIG after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of PLANET, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, the horse did not appreciate being made use of in the early stages to take up a forward position as instructed. He said two starts ago PLANET missed the start and was ridden from near the rear of the field and the horse had finished off the race better than it had at its last two starts when ridden to take up more forward positions. A veterinary inspection of PLANET after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SEIZE THE DAY had lost its right hind plate. VALUE CHOICE and INFALLIBLE CHOICE were sent for sampling.