26/10/2011  Happy Valley  Race 6

After being loaded, THE WAND became fractious and reared. THE WAND was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, THE WAND will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. GROOVY lost a considerable amount of ground at the start. Before being allowed to race again, GROOVY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. After this, GROOVY was ridden along with the whip in an endeavour to make up lost ground and near the 1000 Metres was shifted to the outside of the heels of MASTER GUNNER and made contact with TURF MAGIC. A short distance later, GROOVY (B Prebble) commenced to over-race, shifted out further and made heavy contact with TURF MAGIC which was severely checked when taken across the heels of TAKE THE RAP. In this incident, TURF MAGIC struck the heels of TAKE THE RAP. YUE LU TREASURE, which was following, was checked away from the heels of TURF MAGIC and lost ground. B Prebble was advised that whilst this incident was largely attributable to the racing manners of GROOVY, nonetheless he was reprimanded for initially shifting to the outside of the heels of MASTER GUNNER which initiated the contact between GROOVY and TURF MAGIC. After this, GROOVY proved very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of TAKE THE RAP on a number of occasions between the 900 Metres and the 600 Metres. From a wide barrier, TURF MAGIC was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. ALADDIN PRINCE travelled wide and without cover until passing the 600 Metres. After the 100 Metres, ALADDIN PRINCE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of THE WAND. Throughout the race, LONGWAH RISING travelled wide and without cover. After the race, it was reported that DANEWIN WINNING had blood present at both nostrils. The Veterinary Officer reported that an endoscopic examination of DANEWIN WINNING did not reveal any blood in the trachea and accordingly the horse was not deemed to have bled. A veterinary inspection of GROOVY after the race did not show any significant findings. GROOVY, THE WAND and DANEWIN WINNING were sent for sampling.