10/06/2009  Happy Valley  Race 7

On jumping, from the outside barrier, MY HOME TOWN got its head up when being taken back. PLAN B was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, NORMAN INVADER lost its position when crowded for room between SUPERIOR UNIT and OCEAN WIDE which got its head on the side and shifted in abruptly. Near the 700 Metres, DOUBLE LUCK was steadied away from the heels of MI REILLY which lost ground when being steadied away from the heels of SUPERIOR UNIT which in turn got its head up and lost ground when being steadied away from the heels of SUN TROOPER when the tempo of the race steadied. For some distance approaching the turn at the 600 Metres, NORMAN INVADER was steadied away from the heels of SUPERIOR UNIT. Commencing to make the turn at the 600 Metres, NORMAN INVADER, which continued to be awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPERIOR UNIT, struck the heels of that horse. As a consequence, SUPERIOR UNIT became badly unbalanced behind and was retired from the race. When SUPERIOR UNIT was being eased down, NORMAN INVADER shifted out from behind that runner and as a consequence carried MI REILLY wider. MY HOME TOWN, DOUBLE LUCK, GOOD TO GO and NOBLE MAN were also hampered as SUPERIOR UNIT was being eased down. Before being allowed to race again, SUPERIOR UNIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. In the early part of the Straight, NORMAN INVADER hung in. When questioned regarding the performance of MI REILLY, D Whyte said when the tempo of the race steadied after the 700 Metres, his mount commenced to race fiercely and would not relax for him. He said MI REILLY continued to over-race in the middle stages after being bumped when hampered near the 600 Metres. He said because of the manner in which the horse had travelled, when placed under pressure after straightening, it initially kept on, however, over the final 150 Metres commenced to give ground. He said because MI REILLY was well beaten, he did not persevere in riding his mount out to the end of the race. DOUBLE LUCK, MI REILLY, SUPERIOR UNIT and GOOD TO GO were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of DOUBLE LUCK, MI REILLY, SUPERIOR UNIT and GOOD TO GO after the race did not show any significant findings. SUN TROOPER and OCEAN WIDE were sent for sampling. <11/6/2009 Additional Veterinary Report> SUPERIOR UNIT, which was eased down commencing to make the turn at the 600 Metres, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time there were no significant findings. SUPERIOR UNIT was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer D J Hall this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg. As previously advised, SUPERIOR UNIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.