21/05/2009  Happy Valley  Race 5

K-JACK was withdrawn on 20.5.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter OCEAN TRANQUIL (C K Tong). Before being allowed to race again, K-JACK will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being remounted in the Parade Ring, VILASOL reared and dislodged Y T Cheng, its rider. VILASOL then broke free of its handler. Y T Cheng suffered a harmless fall. VILASOL was slow to begin. ACHILLES OF TROY began awkwardly and lost ground. On jumping, CHARMGOLD was bumped by KEEN SOUL which shifted in. Making the turn at the 1000 Metres, after being shifted to a position on the rail, WELL NOTED was checked away from the heels of OCEAN TRANQUIL which steadied to allow KEEN SOUL to cross into the lead. Then after entering the Back Straight, WELL NOTED was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY PRINCE. In the early stages, ESPERANZA was slow to muster speed, then throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. Near the 900 Metres, CHARMGOLD got its head up when being steadied to shift in to a position with cover. ACHILLES OF TROY, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of CHARMGOLD. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, KEEN SOUL was steadied away from the heels of MY TIME (S K Sit) which shifted in when not properly clear. S K Sit was told to ensure he is clear of other runners before shifting ground. At the 450 Metres, BRILLIANT ONE was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of ACHILLES OF TROY. Prior to straightening, OCEAN TRANQUIL was steadied and shifted to the outside of LUCKY PRINCE to go forward. At the 200 Metres, VILASOL was shifted out away from the heels of CHARMGOLD which was shifting ground. Near the 100 Metres, MAGIC SWEEP was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of OCEAN TRANQUIL which was drifting in. Over the concluding stages, LUCKY PRINCE hung in and proved difficult to ride. When questioned regarding the poor performance of CHARMGOLD, B Prebble said at its last start and again tonight CHARMGOLD had hung out and gave him the impression it was field shy and tonight wanted to run away from runners to its inside. He said CHARMGOLD felt awkward in its action and did not travel well at any stage of the race. CHARMGOLD was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. A veterinary inspection of CHARMGOLD after the race did not show any significant findings. In the circumstances, the performance of CHARMGOLD was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, CHARMGOLD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ESPERANZA and ACHILLES OF TROY were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of ESPERANZA and ACHILLES OF TROY after the race did not show any significant findings. RARE TREASURE and MY TIME were sent for sampling.