06/10/2010  Happy Valley  Race 5

HAPPY GUYS was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot). Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY GUYS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CHEER became badly unbalanced at the start when bumped by MR VIGOROUS which shifted out. In this incident, MR VIGOROUS also became badly unbalanced. Passing the 300 Metres, YOUNG HERO was held up for clear running behind MR VIGOROUS and to the inside of ROYAL PUMPKIN. In the Straight, PACKING FRIEND hung in under pressure. When questioned, J Lloyd (HOLIDAY SUN) stated that approaching the 600 Metres he was following SPECTACULAR AWARD with ROYAL PUMPKIN racing to his inside. He said near the 550 Metres SPECTACULAR AWARD became unbalanced and shifted out abruptly, resulting in HOLIDAY SUN becoming awkwardly placed on the heels of SPECTACULAR AWARD. He said when this happened, ROYAL PUMPKIN was able to shift away from the fence and obtain the position which HOLIDAY SUN had previously occupied. He said because of this he switched HOLIDAY SUN back to the inside to follow CHEER. He said at the entrance to the Straight he initially positioned HOLIDAY SUN to the outside of CARS KING PRAWN in the hope that he would be able to obtain a run between that horse and GREAT HEART, however, when this run initially did not materialize, he attempted to shift HOLIDAY SUN back to the inside in an attempt to obtain clear running. He said near the 200 Metres he momentarily considered taking a run between GOOD LUCK WIN and TEAM WORK, however, as this run was closing, he directed HOLIDAY SUN back to the inside of GOOD LUCK WIN to obtain clear running. When questioned, Mr L Ho, the trainer of PACKING FRIEND, stated that as the horse was drawn wide tonight, it had been decided that it should be ridden quietly in an endeavour to have it finish off the race. He said he felt that were PACKING FRIEND to be ridden in a forward position in what he anticipated to be a solidly run race, too much use would have to be made of PACKING FRIEND to clear runners to its inside and were the horse not able to go forward of runners drawn to its inside, PACKING FRIEND may be left racing wide. After the race, W M Lai (SPECTACULAR AWARD) said that he was concerned with the action of the horse which gave ground abruptly from the 600 Metres. A veterinary inspection of SPECTACULAR AWARD after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SPECTACULAR AWARD was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SPECTACULAR AWARD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of GOOD LUCK WIN after the race did not show any significant findings. CHEER and HOLIDAY SUN were sent for sampling.