18/01/2012  Happy Valley  Race 1

MACASSAR and EVER KING were slow to begin. Shortly after the start, METREVELLI was checked when crowded for room between CLASSA and BULB TREASURE which, after initially being taken out by RAY’S FAVOURITE, became awkward and then shifted out further of its own accord. From a wide barrier, FORTUNE BUNNY was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, SPARKLING shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of EPATANT which was inconvenienced when taken out by RAY’S FAVOURITE which itself shifted out momentarily when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SONOFTHEWEST. This resulted in SPARKLING shifting out to a position without cover. SPARKLING was then allowed to improve into a more forward position after the 1300 Metres. In the early stages, EAST OCEAN travelled wide and without cover and after the 1000 Metres was allowed to stride into a more forward position. However, EAST OCEAN continued to race wide and without cover. W M Lai explained that after passing the winning post on the first occasion the pace of the race slowed, resulting in BULB TREASURE getting its head up on a number of occasions and proving difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of RAY’S FAVOURITE. He said that at this time RAY’S FAVOURITE shifted in to a position one horse off the fence and he considered improving to the inside of that horse. He said however he noticed SPARKLING improving around RAY’S FAVOURITE at that time and felt that he would have had to ride BULB TREASURE along to obtain the position inside RAY’S FAVOURITE before that horse shifted back in. He added due to the manner in which BULB TREASURE was proving difficult to settle, he elected to remain racing behind RAY’S FAVOURITE rather than attempt to obtain the position inside that horse. B Prebble (RAY’S FAVOURITE) was warned against the practice of hitting his mounts down the shoulder with the whip in the forehand manner. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that EAST OCEAN struck the point of the left hip on exiting the stable after undergoing the post-race veterinary inspection. Before being allowed to race again, EAST OCEAN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of BULB TREASURE after the race did not show any significant findings. RAY’S FAVOURITE and SONOFTHEWEST were sent for sampling.