17/12/2014  Happy Valley  Race 1

Trainer L Ho was fined the sum of $2,000 for declaring K C Leung as the rider of VIVA GUY after having been advised by Jockey Leung that he would be unable to ride the horse at the allocated weight. As such, the Stewards permitted K Teetan to be substituted as the rider of VIVA GUY. BLISS CARTEL was withdrawn on 16.12.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BLACK STAR (N Rawiller). Before being allowed to race again, BLISS CARTEL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. POSITIVE ENERGY, which was leaning against the outside of its stall, began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between GLOBAL FAME and CHINA GOOD which shifted out. After this, GLOBAL FAME was shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier. From the outside barrier, VIVA GUY was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, NO TIES was momentarily crowded for room inside ORIENTAL FANTASIA which shifted in marginally. Rounding the Home Turn, RISING POWER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NO TIES. At the entrance to the Straight, CHINA GOOD was shifted out away from the heels of BLACK STAR. Approaching the 300 Metres, ELECTRONIC GOSPEL got its head on the side and lay in across the heels of ORIENTAL FANTASIA, resulting in ELECTRONIC GOSPEL being badly hampered. RISING POWER, which was racing to the inside of ELECTRONIC GOSPEL, was inconvenienced in this incident. Passing the 300 Metres, MIZZEN GREY was momentarily crowded for room when improving between POSITIVE ENERGY which was taken out by ELECTRONIC GOSPEL and BLACK STAR. Near the 250 Metres, CHINA GOOD and HELEN’S CHOICE bumped due to HELEN’S CHOICE shifting in initially and then CHINA GOOD being awkwardly placed outside the heels of BLACK STAR which shifted out. Passing the 250 Metres, ELECTRONIC GOSPEL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ORIENTAL FANTASIA when continuing to lay in under pressure. Also passing the 250 Metres, VIVA GUY was shifted in away from the heels of ELECTRONIC GOSPEL to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, POSITIVE ENERGY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HELEN’S CHOICE, J Moreira stated that after having the blindfold removed HELEN’S CHOICE was fractious in the barriers and then as the start was effected bounded in the air, resulting in the horse losing ground. He said HELEN’S CHOICE was able to recover lost ground and obtained a midfield position. He said HELEN’S CHOICE travelled well until about the 600 Metres at which time he intended to improve his position as the race at this time was only being steadily run. He added HELEN’S CHOICE immediately came under pressure and then despite being ridden out weakened badly in the Straight. He said whilst HELEN’S CHOICE did not feel lame, the horse appeared to be reluctant to stretch out as it had done when he had ridden it in the past. Mr K W Lui, the trainer of HELEN’S CHOICE, was unable to provide any explanation for the disappointing performance of HELEN’S CHOICE other than to say that subsequent races had indicated to him that horses racing back in the field did not appear to be making ground. He said irrespective of this, HELEN’S CHOICE was disappointing in that it was under heavy pressure rounding the Home Turn and did not finish off its race. He added the horse had done well since its last start and had been ridden by Jockey Moreira in some of its work and, in his opinion, this work was good. He said based on this work, he anticipated that HELEN’S CHOICE would perform well. A veterinary inspection of HELEN’S CHOICE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of HELEN’S CHOICE, a favourite for tonight’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HELEN’S CHOICE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ORIENTAL FANTASIA immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination found that horse to have a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea and to have sustained superficial wounds on the right hind leg. HELEN’S CHOICE, NO TIES and RISING POWER were sent for sampling. <18/12/2014 Additional Veterinary Report>HELEN’S CHOICE, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time there were no significant findings. HELEN’S CHOICE was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer K W Lui this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg and to have a stiff and restricted action. As previously advised, HELEN’S CHOICE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.