09/01/2013  Happy Valley  Race 2

PLAIN RED BANNER was withdrawn on 8.1.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetance). Before being allowed to race again, PLAIN RED BANNER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GOLDEN BAUHINIA, which was fractious in the barriers, began awkwardly and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of GREAT ALEXANDER which shifted in. TELECOM CHIEF began awkwardly. From the outside barrier, D DAY SUPER was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 800 Metres, GREAT ALEXANDER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HANNIBAL BARCA. After the 800 Metres, RED LUCKY STAR was steadied away from the heels of NOBODY BUT YOU (T H So) which shifted in when not properly clear. T H So was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. A short distance after this, RED LUCKY STAR shifted out away from the heels of NOBODY BUT YOU, resulting in D DAY SUPER being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. Making the first turn after the 600 Metres, GREAT ALEXANDER got its head on the side and hung out and near the 400 Metres was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HANNIBAL BARCA which itself was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NOBODY BUT YOU which was steadied after attempting to shift away from the heels of SECRET OF WINNING. In this incident, NOBODY BUT YOU bumped the hindquarters of TRUE COURAGE which became unbalanced. Near the 250 Metres, HANNIBAL BARCA was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of NOBODY BUT YOU which shifted out to obtain clear running. Near the 200 Metres, Apprentice K C Ng (SECRET OF WINNING) dropped his whip. Near the 50 Metres, TRUE COURAGE and NOBODY BUT YOU brushed as a result of both horses shifting ground. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of RED LUCKY STAR, a favourite for tonight’s race, M L Yeung stated that the horse travelled strongly until rounding the Home Turn. He said at this time he shifted RED LUCKY STAR out to make its finishing run and he anticipated that the horse would finish off the race strongly, however, RED LUCKY STAR quickly came under pressure and despite being ridden out in the Straight did not respond to his riding and over the final 100 Metres gave ground. He said RED LUCKY STAR, in his opinion, was very disappointing in tonight’s race. A veterinary inspection of RED LUCKY STAR after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea and also found the horse to have overreached on the outside of the left hind heel. Before being allowed to race again, RED LUCKY STAR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of GREAT ALEXANDER after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MULTIEXPRESS after the race did not show any significant findings other than the horse had lost its left front plate. RED LUCKY STAR, NOBODY BUT YOU and TRUE COURAGE were sent for sampling.