27/05/2009  Happy Valley  Race 5

IMPLIED VOLATILITY was withdrawn on 26.5.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ROCKET AND GOLD (Y T Cheng). Before being allowed to race again, IMPLIED VOLATILITY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After arriving at the saddling stalls, it was noted SUDDEN SPLENDOR had shifted its right hind plate. This plate was reset. SUDDEN SPLENDOR was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. When the start was effected, STRIKING MASCOT, which had been fractious in its stall, bounded in the air, causing J Lloyd, its rider, to strike his head on an overhead bar. As a consequence, J Lloyd became unbalanced and was dislodged from his mount. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that STRIKING MASCOT had sustained an abrasion above the right eye. Having in mind STRIKING MASCOT's barrier record, before being permitted to race again, the horse will have to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. ALL TIME HIGH began awkwardly, bumped the inside of its stall, then was slow to muster speed and after the 1200 Metres was allowed to improve around the field. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, SUDDEN SPLENDOR, which was left racing wide and without cover after being ridden along to go forward, was steadied and taken back to a position with cover. Near the 50 Metres, HIGH INTELLIGENT was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY TYCOON (W M Lai) which drifted in when not properly clear. W M Lai was told to exercise greater care. CARE FREE MIDAS, which was racing inside HIGH INTELLIGENT and was giving ground, was steadied in consequence. W M Lai explained he had been instructed to ride his mount quietly from a wide barrier to avoid travelling wide in the run. Following the race, S K Sit (SUDDEN SPLENDOR), which performed poorly, reported his mount was not comfortable in tonight's track conditions. MASTER DREAMER, GALLANT MASTER and MARBLE RED were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that CARE FREE MIDAS had lost its right hind plate.