03/02/2010  Happy Valley  Race 2

AMAZING FORTUNE was withdrawn on 1.2.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucopus on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter OTTIMO. Before being allowed to race again, AMAZING FORTUNE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PACIFIC ALLIANCE was slow to begin. From wide barriers, OTTIMO and SOMETHING SPECIAL were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After being caught wide in the early stages, ROCKALOT was taken back to a position at the rear of the field passing the 1300 Metres. Passing the 1000 Metres, BULB TREASURE was checked away from the heels of WIN A DOZEN. Passing the 500 Metres, SOMETHING SPECIAL was steadied away from the heels of MAINLAND SHUTTLE. The performance of BEST MATE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, BEST MATE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, Z Purton (FANTASTISCH) stated that approaching the winning post on the first occasion he was of the opinion that BEST MATE, which was racing to his inside, was going to obtain a position on the fence which would have allowed him the opportunity to race one off the fence. He said however that passing the winning post on the first occasion he became aware that PACIFIC ALLIANCE had improved its position to be racing to the inside of BEST MATE, resulting in FANTASTISCH being left racing in a three wide position. He said he then commenced to ride FANTASTISCH along in an attempt to obtain a position outside BULB TREASURE one off the fence, however, FANTASTISCH did not show sufficient speed to improve its position and was therefore left racing three wide for the remainder of the race. Z Purton said that after enduring a hard run, FANTASTISCH came under pressure prior to the Home Turn and weakened in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of FANTASTISCH after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of FANTASTISCH, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, FANTASTISCH will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MAINLAND SHUTTLE, G Mossé stated that, in his opinion, the horse was disappointing in that it failed to run on as it did at its most recent start at Happy Valley on 27 January 2010. He further stated that MAINLAND SHUTTLE’s action felt good throughout the event and he was not able to offer any explanation for the horse’s performance. He added that he did note that MAINLAND SHUTTLE had a drop in body weight since its run last start. A veterinary inspection of MAINLAND SHUTTLE and ROCKALOT after the race did not show any significant findings. MAINLAND SHUTTLE, CLASSA SUPREME and PRECISION MAGIC were sent for sampling.