22/04/2009  Happy Valley  Race 4

WHATAFANTASY was withdrawn on 21.4.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, WHATAFANTASY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. COVER BOY was slow to begin. On jumping, HAPPY MASTER was crowded for room between LIVERBIRD and SOHNA which shifted in. Shortly after the start, SUNSHINE BOY was checked when crowded for room between GOLDEN BALL which when being taken back shifted in and CHEEKY LAD which was carried out and bumped by STRIKING MASCOT. In this incident, CHEEKY LAD became unbalanced, then despite being ridden along failed to muster speed. Making the turn at the 1000 Metres, GOLDEN BALL was hampered and carried wider by COVER BOY which got its head up and shifted out abruptly when being steadied away from the heels of SUNSHINE BOY. At the 800 Metres, GOLDEN BALL was steadied away from the heels of CHEEKY LAD which in turn was steadied away from the heels of WADADELIGHT. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, SOHNA lost ground when awkwardly placed inside the hindquarters of HAPPY MASTER. On straightening, IMPLIED VOLATILITY was bumped by STRIKING MASCOT which shifted in while hanging. STRIKING MASCOT continued to hang in for the remainder of the race. At the 100 Metres, COVER BOY, which in the Straight hung out, shifted ground and caused some inconvenience to CHEEKY LAD. M W Leung, the rider of COVER BOY, stopped riding and straightened his mount. When questioned, E Saint-Martin (GOLDEN BALL) said in his initial conversation with Trainer A Schutz prior to the race Mr Schutz had indicated to him that he felt the horse might be best suited ridden in a forward position if possible. He said after further discussion Mr Schutz advised him to ride the horse as he felt appropriate. He said from an awkward draw he felt GOLDEN BALL would be best suited ridden quietly in the early stages to assist the horse which was stepping back up in distance to 1650 Metres in closing the race off strongly. He said he noted the first two races tonight suited horses closing off and he therefore did not believe his mount would be disadvantaged if travelling behind midfield. He said accordingly he rode GOLDEN BALL quietly in the early stages and travelled near the rear, however, due to the circumstances of the race GOLDEN BALL lost ground after the 1200 Metres and ended up travelling at the rear which was further back than he had hoped. He said GOLDEN BALL travelled only fairly throughout the race and in the Straight whilst the horse did make some ground it was generally disappointing in the manner in which it closed the race off. SUNSHINE BOY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SUNSHINE BOY after the race did not show any significant findings. SOHNA, STRIKING MASCOT and HAPPY MASTER were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that IMPLIED VOLATILITY had lost its left hind plate.