26/01/2011  Happy Valley  Race 4

On arrival at the Start, the tongue tie applied to SKY MASCOT was refitted. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER was difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, BEAUTIFUL DREAMER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. OASIS DAVIS was slow to begin. When racing wide making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, JOYFUL JOYFUL was steadied when crowded for room between SKY MASCOT and FRESH AIR which, after initially getting its head on the side and shifting in of its own accord, was then taken in slightly by ETERNAL BEAUTY. When being steadied, JOYFUL JOYFUL blundered. No further action was taken. After the 800 Metres, JOYFUL JOYFUL was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 600 Metres, YOUNG TURBO got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied away from the heels of FRESH AIR. Rounding the Home Turn, BEAUTIFUL DREAMER was steadied away from the heels of SKY MASCOT. When questioned regarding his riding of FIONN’S DRAGON, D Whyte stated that in discussions with Mr C S Shum, the trainer of the horse, it was decided that FIONN’S DRAGON should be ridden in 5th or 6th position if possible, however, he was instructed by Mr Shum that he should not make use of the horse to do so in the early stages to obtain this position as it had previously not been finishing off its races to his expectation when use was made of the horse in the early stages. He said FIONN’S DRAGON began fairly, he immediately observed ASSURE, which had drawn to his inside, being hard ridden to obtain a forward position. He said as he formed the view that ASSURE was going to take up a forward position, he elected, rather than continue to maintain his position to the outside of that horse, to allow FIONN’S DRAGON to shift across behind ASSURE and race on the fence. He said he felt that this would place him in a position about midfield in the early stages. He added however that near the 1000 Metres ASSURE was steadied by its rider to allow BEAUTIFUL DREAMER to cross which in turn was steadied by its rider to allow runners which were improving to its outside to take up forward positions. He said because of this FIONN’S DRAGON raced at the tail of the field and much further back than had been intended. He said as a consequence he elected, after the 800 Metres, to shift away from the fence in an attempt to follow PLAN B in the race, however, OASIS DAVIS maintained its position to the outside of FIONN’S DRAGON and OASIS DAVIS itself was racing tight to the inside of BRILLIANT CHARIOT. He added for this reason FIONN’S DRAGON was obliged to continue to race at the rear of the field and on the fence. He said at the entrance to the Straight he improved into a position to be racing behind BEAUTIFUL DREAMER and runs were available both to the inside and to the outside of that horse. He said as he felt that BEAUTIFUL DREAMER may shift inwards shortly after straightening, he elected to pursue a run to the outside of that horse. He said that when he did this, FIONN’S DRAGON hung in badly and proved difficult to shift to the outside of BEAUTIFUL DREAMER and for this reason FIONN’S DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse for a short distance. He said that FIONN’S DRAGON then continued to hang in in the Straight and proved difficult to ride. He said despite the fact that the horse had its head on the side and was hanging in, he was able to use the whip in the backhanded manner passing the 100 Metres. D Whyte was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in not riding FIONN’S DRAGON in such a manner in the early stages to maintain its position to the outside of ASSURE rather than shifting in behind that horse. He was further advised that at all times he must make every attempt to ride his mounts in accordance with his instructions. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SKY MASCOT, D Beadman stated that although he had to make some use of the horse to cross runners to his inside in the early stages, he was able to find the fence after the 800 Metres and SKY MASCOT at this time was travelling strongly. He said that when he steadied to allow ETERNAL BEAUTY to cross approaching the 700 Metres, SKY MASCOT felt as if it was being galloped on behind by BEAUTIFUL DREAMER which was racing close to its heels. He said during this period of the race, SKY MASCOT changed stride on a number of occasions and after this did not travel as it had done earlier in the race. He said he placed SKY MASCOT under pressure in the Straight, however, the horse did not respond to his riding. He added that although SKY MASCOT did not appear to have been galloped on after the race, the horse felt as if it lost its action approaching the 700 Metres. A veterinary inspection of SKY MASCOT after the race did not show any significant findings. FIONN’S DRAGON, OASIS DAVIS and FRESH AIR were sent for sampling. <27/1/2011 Additional Veterinary Report> The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that YOUNG TURBO was lame in its right front knee on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, YOUNG TURBO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.