09/03/2011  Happy Valley  Race 4

SUPER SURPRISE was slow to begin and shortly after the start was bumped by PINOT NOIR which shifted out. WINNING PAL was crowded for room at the start between HEALTHY CONTENDER and KING GALILEO, both of which shifted ground. Approaching the 1200 Metres, COVER BOY got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. Also near the 1200 Metres, GREEN GLORY was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching and passing the 900 Metres, COVER BOY commenced to travel keenly and was checked away from the heels of WINNING PAL. Making the turn approaching and passing the 600 Metres, GREEN GLORY was taken wider by PINOT NOIR which shifted out. Near the 500 Metres, ROCKET AND GOLD raced in restricted room between PINOT NOIR and HEALTHY MANNER which shifted out. When questioned, Apprentice T H So stated that PINOT NOIR raced greenly and shifted ground on a number of occasions in the early and middle stages. He said making the turn after the 1000 Metres PINOT NOIR got its head on the side and shifted out. He said he shifted PINOT NOIR back in to race to the outside of the hindquarters of the leader MASTER DRAGON a short distance after this, however, on entering the Back Straight PINOT NOIR continued to race greenly and shifted out away from MASTER DRAGON. He added that approaching the 900 Metres MASTER DRAGON shifted out slightly and PINOT NOIR shifted out away from that horse. He said at this time ROCKET AND GOLD was able to improve its position to the inside of PINOT NOIR and for this reason he was not able to shift PINOT NOIR back in and was obliged to race three wide after this. He said making the turn after the 600 Metres PINOT NOIR got its head on the side and hung out, continued to hang out rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight gave ground. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SUPER SURPRISE was lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER SURPRISE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of COVER BOY after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. HEALTHY MANNER and HEALTHY CONTENDER were sent for sampling.