01/12/2010  Happy Valley  Race 1

Trainer K L Man was fined the sum of $3,000 for presenting IMAGINATION in the Parade Ring with a blinker with one cowl only rather than a side winker one side in which it had been declared to run. COVER BOY was slow to begin. KING GALILEO began awkwardly. Passing the 1600 Metres, HEALTHY MANNER, which was being vigorously ridden to obtain a forward position, was steadied away from the heels of IMAGINATION which shifted in when barely clear. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, CHANTILLY was steadied away from the heels of KING GALILEO. For a short distance passing the 600 Metres, GRAND GENERAL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KING GALILEO which shifted out after being momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of ROCKET AND GOLD. Shortly after entering the Straight, HEALTHY MANNER was steadied when disappointed for running between ROCKET AND GOLD and IMAGINATION which at this time commenced to give ground. After this, HEALTHY MANNER was not able to obtain clear running until near the 150 Metres. In the early part of the Straight, COVER BOY was steadied when racing close to the heels of KING GALILEO which shifted out. Over the concluding stages, COVER BOY and KING GALILEO raced tight due to COVER BOY shifting in. The performance of FRAMES DEPOT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FRAMES DEPOT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Mr C W Chang, trainer of FRAMES DEPOT, advised the Stewards that he had recommended to the owners that FRAMES DEPOT be retired following tonight’s race. When questioned, O Doleuze (FRAMES DEPOT) said that after being slow to begin, he rode his mount to take up a forward position as instructed. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion FRAMES DEPOT was racing in a three wide position but with cover behind SOLAR WONDER. He said approaching the 1200 Metres SOLAR WONDER improved its position to be racing one off the fence which left FRAMES DEPOT racing without cover. He said he allowed his mount to improve to see if it was possible to obtain a position behind SOLAR WONDER, however, at this time he sensed that the tempo of the race was slowing up and as he could not obtain a position behind SOLAR WONDER, he allowed FRAMES DEPOT to continue to improve its position in the hope that he would be able to clear runners to his inside and obtain a position close to the fence. He said passing the 1000 Metres when he made the decision to allow his mount to stride forward, he observed H W Lai, the rider of SOLAR WONDER, steadying his mount to allow FRAMES DEPOT to cross, therefore he continued to allow FRAMES DEPOT to improve its position as he felt he may be able to shift across SOLAR WONDER. He said passing the 900 Metres it became apparent to him that despite the efforts of H W Lai, SOLAR WONDER was not able to be restrained, therefore he was left racing three wide and without cover and near the 800 Metres steadied FRAMES DEPOT when he realized that he would not be able to cross runners to his inside. O Doleuze was advised that the Stewards accepted that the circumstances of the race had resulted in him making the decision to improve his position near the 1000 Metres and that H W Lai was clearly attempting to restrain SOLAR WONDER to allow FRAMES DEPOT to cross, however, he was advised that wherever possible he should not set his mounts too great a task. When questioned, H W Lai confirmed that near the 1000 Metres he observed FRAMES DEPOT being ridden into a forward position. He said as he did not want to engage in a speed battle with this horse, he elected to restrain SOLAR WONDER, however, the horse commenced to over-race and would not settle. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of STAR OF CHIU TON, M Chadwick stated that he had to make some use of the horse to cross runners to his inside which he was able to do near the 1200 Metres. He said after obtaining the fence in the lead, he attempted to ease the tempo on STAR OF CHIU TON due to the amount of use he had to make on the horse in the early stages. He said when he did this, SOLAR WONDER and FRAMES DEPOT improved to the outside of STAR OF CHIU TON and because of this he was not able to get the horse to relax in the middle stages as he had hoped. He said because of the manner in which the race was run, STAR OF CHIU TON was not able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of STAR OF CHIU TON after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ROCKET AND GOLD after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, ROCKET AND GOLD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ROCKET AND GOLD, CHANTILLY and GREAT SHOW were sent for sampling.