28/04/2010  Happy Valley  Race 4

POWER AND GOLD was slow to begin. SPARKLING FEELING began awkwardly. PLANET was slow to begin and shortly after the start was crowded for room between ESPERANZA and LOTS OF FUN which shifted in. Shortly after the start, LUCKY BO BO was steadied away from the heels of SOLAR UP which shifted out. Near the 1000 Metres, TREASURE RAIDERS was steadied away from the heels of POWER AND GOLD. Making the first turn, LUCKY BO BO was checked away from the heels of ESPERANZA which shifted out. ASIAN CITRUS, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Also making the first turn, WITHALLMYHEART was steadied when crowded for room between SOLAR UP and SUNSHINE BOY which was taken out by SPARKLING FEELING which at this stage hung out. POWER AND GOLD travelled wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres. Passing the 600 Metres, SPARKLING FEELING became awkward on the heels of SOLAR UP (J Lloyd) which shifted in when not quite clear. J Lloyd was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. Passing the 300 Metres, TREASURE RAIDERS, which was laying in, was steadied away from the heels of ESPERANZA which shifted out. After this, TREASURE RAIDERS continued to lay in and passing the 200 Metres was awkwardly placed outside the heels of ESPERANZA. At the 200 Metres, SUNSHINE BOY was steadied when disappointed for running between SPARKLING FEELING and WITHALLMYHEART which shifted in. When questioned regarding his riding of LOTS OF FUN in the Straight, C W Wong stated that he commenced pushing his mount along passing the 500 Metres so as to follow PLANET into the Straight. He said he rode LOTS OF FUN along in the early part of the Straight and he attempted to obtain a run between runners passing the 300 Metres. He said when it was apparent to him that there was no clear running ahead of him due to SUNSHINE BOY being taken in by WITHALLMYHEART, he shifted LOTS OF FUN out passing the 200 Metres to continue improving his position. He said near the 150 Metres SUNSHINE BOY shifted out, therefore he elected to obtain a run to the inside of that horse. He said when he did this, he elected to pull the whip from the left hand into his right hand, however, the whip became entangled in the horse’s mane and for this reason he was not able to properly ride LOTS OF FUN out over the concluding stages. C W Wong was advised that his riding of LOTS OF FUN had come under notice and that he must at all times fully test his mounts so as to leave no room for query. He was further advised that he had been previously spoken to regarding his riding out of horses in the Straight and that the Stewards were concerned regarding the number of occasions he has been spoken to regarding his riding out of horses. C W Wong was also warned regarding the standard of the evidence he provided at this inquiry. SUCCESSFUL ERA, SOLAR UP and WITHALLMYHEART were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that there was blood present at the right nostril of TREASURE RAIDERS. He said however that an endoscopic examination showed the horse’s trachea to be clean and as such TREASURE RAIDERS was not deemed to have bled.