21/05/2009  Happy Valley  Race 1

After arriving in the holding stables, it was noted ELEPHANT STAR had a dried blood stain in its left nostril. ELEPHANT STAR was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said an endoscopic examination showed a mild blood stain in the left nasal passage only. He said after consulting Trainer T K Ng ELEPHANT STAR was considered suitable to race. SUPER IDEAL began awkwardly and lost ground. COME HO CHOI was slow into stride and then took time to muster. GREEN SUPER began awkwardly, then for the major part of the race travelled wide and without cover and finished tailed out. The performance of GREEN SUPER was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, GREEN SUPER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DRAGON BOY began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped TOUCH MORE. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, DRAGON BOY was steadied when awkwardly placed between the heels of JOYFUL YEARS and SPEED OF LIGHT. Near the 1000 Metres, DRAGON BOY was checked when crowded for room inside SPEED OF LIGHT which got its head on the side and shifted in momentarily. SUPER IDEAL was steadied in consequence. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, ELEPHANT STAR got its head on the side, shifted in and was steadied away from the heels of GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. Shortly after this, ELEPHANT STAR became unbalanced and lost ground after being brushed by DRAGON BOY which shifted out to go forward. In the early part of the Straight, COME HO CHOI got its head on the side, shifted in and bumped HONEST TREASURE on several occasions. After this, COME HO CHOI, which was giving ground, continued to hang in. Over the concluding stages, SUPER IDEAL hung in. The performance of ALIVE AND KICKING, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, ALIVE AND KICKING will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. C K Tong (ALIVE AND KICKING) was reprimanded for using his whip over the concluding stages on a horse which was well out of contention. After the race, D Beadman (TOUCH MORE) reported that in the run his mount was making an abnormal breathing noise. TOUCH MORE was sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, TOUCH MORE was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said there were no significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, TOUCH MORE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPEED OF LIGHT was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SPEED OF LIGHT after the race did not show any significant findings. GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, DRAGON BOY and JOYFUL YEARS were sent for sampling. <22/5/2009 Additional Veterinary Report> SPEED OF LIGHT, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time there were no significant findings. SPEED OF LIGHT was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer B K Ng this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SPEED OF LIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.