18/11/2009  Happy Valley  Race 7

FLORAL PICASSO was withdrawn on 16.11.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter SUPERNOVA. GREAT LAND’S STAR was also withdrawn on 16.11.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucopus in trachea on scoping after track work) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter GILDED FLIGHT. Before being allowed to race again, FLORAL PICASSO and GREAT LAND’S STAR will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Shortly after the start, BILLION, CHAMPION LAD and MACHO EXPRESSO were all hampered inside HE CAN TANGO which shifted in. A short distance later, HE CAN TANGO was steadied away from the heels of BILLION which shifted out slightly. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, HE CAN TANGO got its head on the side and hung in across the heels of AMAZING VENTURE, resulting in HE CAN TANGO striking the heels of AMAZING VENTURE, blundering and being severely checked. Near the 1200 Metres, AMAZING VENTURE shifted out and was checked away from the heels of YUE LU TREASURE. HE CAN TANGO, which was following, was hampered in consequence. The Stewards questioned C W Wong, the rider of LOCAL POWER, regarding him looking to his inside and to his outside on a number of occasions in the Straight. C W Wong was told that the fact that he had looked around in the Straight without any obvious need had come under notice and that he should refrain from doing so in the future when not necessary. When questioned, J Lloyd (AMAZING VENTURE) said that shortly after straightening he elected to allow his horse, which was laying in, to shift to the inside of MACHO EXPRESSO to improve his position. He said he placed AMAZING VENTURE under pressure hands and heels, however, in his opinion, the horse was finishing off the race only fairly. He said he went to use the whip on the horse near the 100 Metres, however, it shifted out and was awkwardly placed near the hindquarters of MACHO EXPRESSO. He said for this reason he put the whip away and continued to ride the horse out hands and heels to the line. A veterinary inspection of MACHO EXPRESSO and AMAZING VENTURE after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HE CAN TANGO after the race revealed that the horse was an early “roarer” on scoping. YUE LU TREASURE, SUPERNOVA and CHAMPION LAD were sent for sampling.