21/09/2016  Happy Valley  Race 4

ENTRUSTING was slow to begin. HARBOUR VICTORY began awkwardly and lost ground. KING BOUNTIFUL began only fairly. CASA MASTER shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of MR KOOL. After this, despite being vigorously ridden along, CASA MASTER failed to muster speed. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, RED PEONY was steadied away from the heels of SUPER SWEET ORANGE which became badly unbalanced after momentarily racing tight inside MR KOOL which got its head on the side and shifted in. Passing the 1300 Metres, BORN TO RACE was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1100 Metres was allowed to stride forward to race outside the lead. After the 900 Metres, HARBOUR VICTORY was left racing wide and without cover and gave ground noticeably from the 600 Metres. A veterinary inspection of HARBOUR VICTORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of HARBOUR VICTORY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HARBOUR VICTORY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding his riding of BORN TO RACE over about the final 200 Metres, C Y Ho stated that leading up to this point BORN TO RACE had raced tractably outside SPARKLING SWORD. He said however passing the 200 Metres as BORN TO RACE commenced to establish a margin over SPARKLING SWORD, his mount immediately commenced to hang in and he had to apply pressure to the outside rein to prevent the horse from shifting in as he was not sufficiently clear of SPARKLING SWORD which had GOOD CHOICE improving to its inside. He said he attempted to ride BORN TO RACE out vigorously with the whip in the right hand whilst continuing to apply pressure to the outside rein to prevent BORN TO RACE from shifting in and causing interference to SPARKLING SWORD. He added he had a number of looks to his inside as he wanted to establish whether he was clear of SPARKLING SWORD so that he could then ride his mount out more vigorously. He said after crossing SPARKLING SWORD near the 80 Metres, BORN TO RACE then continued to lay in and he was obliged to put the whip away and ride BORN TO RACE out hands and heels as the horse was continuing to lay in towards GOOD CHOICE. He said the reason for looking to his inside on a number of occasions during this period of the race was solely to establish whether he was clear of SPARKLING SWORD so that he could ride BORN TO RACE out fully. After viewing the video and considering Jockey Ho's evidence, his explanation was accepted. A veterinary inspection of CASA MASTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. SUPER SWEET ORANGE, GOOD CHOICE and BORN TO RACE were sent for sampling.