21/09/2016  Happy Valley  Race 1

BLAZING PASS began only fairly. PO CHING TREASURE and AZTEC EMPIRE bumped at the start. GOLD DRAGON, which began only fairly, was steadied shortly after the start when WEALTHY FORTUNE was taken in by AUTUMN GOLD which in turn was taken in by BO DUKE which got its head on the side and shifted in. After this, despite being ridden long, WEALTHY FORTUNE failed to muster speed after racing tight inside AUTUMN GOLD which, from a wide barrier, was then steadied a short distance later and shifted across behind runners. Shortly after the start, MAC ROW shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of PO CHING TREASURE. Passing the 900 Metres, WEALTHY FORTUNE was shifted out in an endeavour to improve and after this travelled wide and without cover until after the 600 Metres. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, GOLD DRAGON raced tight between SMART UNION and WEALTHY FORTUNE. Rounding the Home Turn, GOLD DRAGON was crowded for room between PO CHING TREASURE and GLORY STAR which was taken out by AZTEC EMPIRE (O Doleuze) which shifted out. As the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied to the necessary degree that GOLD DRAGON had properly established running to the outside of GLORY STAR prior to being crowded for room, O Doleuze was severely reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he must make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. Passing the 150 Metres, SMART UNION raced tight inside AZTEC EMPIRE. When questioned regarding the improved performance of BO DUKE, Trainer P F Yiu stated that the horse's win tonight was not anticipated. He said BO DUKE had been somewhat disappointing and for this reason he had varied the distances and the riders engaged to partner the horse in order to have it find form. He said he did not anticipate that there would be much pace in the race and therefore he instructed, M Chadwick, the rider of BO DUKE, to go forward in the hope that the horse would be able to obtain a soft lead and therefore would be able to finish off its race. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of GLORY STAR, T H So stated that after obtaining a position outside the leader after passing the winning post on the first occasion, GLORY STAR then travelled well and he anticipated that the horse would close off the race well. He said however that GLORY STAR came under pressure after the 500 Metres and he was unable to prevent AZTEC EMPIRE from improving its position underneath GLORY STAR and taking his mount out rounding the turn. He added, despite being placed under heavy pressure in the Straight, GLORY STAR did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close off the race. A veterinary inspection of GLORY STAR immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a small cut to the right hind fetlock, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. A veterinary inspection of GOLD DRAGON immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, GOLD DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GLORY STAR, BO DUKE and AZTEC EMPIRE were sent for sampling.