21/12/2011  Happy Valley  Race 6

SKY MASCOT was withdrawn on 20.12.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FURTHER DETAIL (M Du Plessis). Before being allowed to race again, SKY MASCOT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded, FURTHER DETAIL became fractious and reared over, resulting in FURTHER DETAIL being trapped under the back gates. After being examined by the Veterinary Officer, FURTHER DETAIL, which took some time to be released from under the back gates, was found to be unsuitable to race and accordingly was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, FURTHER DETAIL will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. MANY GAINS, which was in the adjoining barrier stall, was removed from the barrier and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Shortly after the start, POCKET ROCKETS, which began awkwardly, was checked when crowded for room between FLYING SMART and CITY POWER which was taken in by BULLISH KING which itself shifted in after being bumped by LONGWAH RISING which shifted ground when being steadied to be taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching the 1000 Metres, GROOVY got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of MANY GAINS (N Callan) which shifted in when not properly clear. N Callan was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. FLYING SMART, which was following GROOVY, was steadied in consequence. At the same time, FLYING SMART was bumped by FLYING TOGETHER which shifted out marginally away from the heels of WITHINMYHEART. Near the 600 Metres, WITHINMYHEART got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of PO CHING KING. After the 600 Metres, FLYING TOGETHER and FLYING SMART bumped. Throughout the race, CITY POWER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice T H So stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been instructed to shift LONGWAH RISING across behind runners shortly after the start and obtain a position with cover. He said it was explained to him that although LONGWAH RISING had shown speed in its races, from barrier 12 tonight, it was felt that if the horse was ridden to obtain a forward position, LONGWAH RISING may be left racing wide and without cover and consequently would not be able to finish off its race. He said after obtaining a position at the rear of the field making the first turn, LONGWAH RISING, despite being vigorously ridden along, did not stretch out and then did not finish off its race. When questioned, D Whyte stated that after following FLYING SMART rounding the Home Turn, POCKET ROCKETS did not show the turn of foot that it did at its most recent start when successful. He said however that after this POCKET ROCKETS stayed on satisfactorily in the run to the finishing line. A veterinary inspection of POCKET ROCKETS after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that CITY POWER had lost its left hind plate and that PO CHING KING had lost its right front plate. A veterinary inspection of LONGWAH RISING after the race did not show any significant findings. FLYING SMART, GROOVY and WITHINMYHEART were sent for sampling.