02/04/2014  Happy Valley  Race 2

NOSTALGIA was withdrawn on 1.4.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter WINNING ADVANTAGE (G Mosse). Before being allowed to race again, NOSTALGIA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, K C Leung expressed concern over the action of CHARMGOLD. CHARMGOLD was examined by the Veterinary Officer who, after the necessary consultations, found the horse was suitable to race. HIGH SPEED METRO began awkwardly and shortly after the start was crowded for room between SAMMY'S FALCON and CARE FREE ELEGANCE, both of which shifted ground. Shortly after the start, ROYAL KNIGHT, which began awkwardly, was shifted in behind FIERY PATROL after being crowded for room between that horse and GOOD LUCK WIN which shifted in. From the outside barrier, MASTER GUNNER was taken across behind runners in the early stages. At the 1200 Metres, NO TIES got its head on the side and shifted out across the heels of GOOD LUCK WIN. After the 1100 Metres, HIGH SPEED METRO got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. After the 1000 Metres, SAMMY'S FALCON was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 900 Metres, DARK SECRET commenced to over-race and shifted out after being checked away from the heels of WINNING ADVANTAGE. After initially attempting to obtain a position to the outside of NO TIES, CARE FREE ELEGANCE was shifted to the inside of that horse near the 350 Metres to obtain clear running and in doing so bumped ROYAL KNIGHT. After the 200 Metres, NO TIES, which was laying in, was steadied away from the heels of GOOD LUCK WIN when crowded for room between that horse which shifted out slightly and CASA JUNIOR. Near the 150 Metres, ROYAL KNIGHT shifted out and bumped CARE FREE ELEGANCE. Then near the 100 Metres, CARE FREE ELEGANCE momentarily raced in restricted room between GOOD LUCK WIN and ROYAL KNIGHT. Near the 75 Metres, SAMMY'S FALCON was crowded for room between CHARMGOLD and DARK SECRET which, when improving to the inside of MASTER GUNNER, was taken in slightly by that horse. Close to the finishing line, DARK SECRET was struck across the nose by the whip of B Prebble (MASTER GUNNER). When questioned regarding his riding of CHARMGOLD after the 1100 Metres, K C Leung stated that he had ridden his mount along for some distance to maintain his position behind FIERY PATROL and inside CASA JUNIOR. He said despite riding the horse along, CHARMGOLD was reluctant to maintain its position and after receiving minor pressure from CASA JUNIOR near the 1000 Metres, he was unable to prevent that horse from shifting in due to CHARMGOLD failing to respond to his riding to maintain its position. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FIERY PATROL, Y T Cheng stated that he had been asked to ride the horse in about 4th or 5th position with cover if possible. He said FIERY PATROL began well and after riding his mount positively in the early stages so as to take up a forward position as instructed, FIERY PATROL was left racing outside NO TIES without cover making the first turn near the 1200 Metres as no other runners improved their positions to be racing outside the leader GOOD LUCK WIN. He said nonetheless he was satisfied with the manner in which FIERY PATROL was travelling as the tempo of the race was not strong. He added FIERY PATROL came under pressure after the 500 Metres and, despite being ridden along, did not respond to his riding and commenced to give ground at the entrance to the Straight. He added after this FIERY PATROL was disappointing in the manner in which it weakened in the Straight. He did say he believed that FIERY PATROL has difficulty in carrying weight as most of its better runs had been when the horse was not required to carry weight near the 129 lbs which it was allocated tonight. A veterinary inspection of FIERY PATROL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DARK SECRET immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ROYAL KNIGHT was lame in its right front leg with a bleeding quarter crack. Before being allowed to race again, ROYAL KNIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.. NO TIES, CASA JUNIOR and WINNING ADVANTAGE were sent for sampling.