28/09/2016  Happy Valley  Race 2

The Stewards were advised by Dr E N M Ho, the Club's Acting Head of Racing Laboratory, that a pre-race urine sample taken from a horse declared to run in tonight's racemeeting was found to contain the prohibited substance diclofenac. It was subsequently established that the pre-race urine sample was taken from VICTORIUS trained by Mr Y S Tsui. The Stewards acceded to a request from Mr Tsui to withdraw VICTORIUS from this race. Accordingly, VICTORIUS was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. The Stewards ordered for a further urine sample to be taken from VICTORIUS under post-race conditions. The matter was adjourned until a date to be fixed. GENTILIS shifted out at the start and hampered LOVE CHUNGHWA. After travelling a short distance, WHO’STHEDUDE was steadied and shifted across behind runners to find cover. DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS lost its right hind plate near the 1000 Metres. GENTILIS lost its left hind plate at the 700 Metres. Approaching the 600 Metres, GENTILIS commenced to lay out and bumped GRACYDAD. Passing the 600 Metres, PLANET GIANT shifted in and brushed the running rail. Passing the 150 Metres, PLANET GIANT, which was closing off fairly, had to be checked to avoid the heels of GENTILIS which shifted out suddenly when commencing to give ground. When questioned regarding his riding of BORN DRAGON, O Doleuze stated that he was instructed to ride the horse in a forward position, however, it began slowly. He said he allowed BORN DRAGON to gather momentum in the run to the first turn and approaching the 1000 Metres he anticipated being able to shift in and obtain cover behind NATURAL TEAM. He said however that as he attempted to take up this position, BORN DRAGON commenced to race ungenerously which obliged him to check the horse out away from the heels of NATURAL TEAM. He further stated that BORN DRAGON then got its head on the side and continued to race ungenerously which obliged him to allow the horse to stride forward along the Back Straight in order to have it race more tractably. He said as he joined the leaders GENTILIS and GRACYDAD approaching the 600 Metres, he was hopeful of being able to clear GRACYDAD, however, at this stage GRACYDAD maintained its position which prevented him from being able to cross that horse and obliged BORN DRAGON to remain racing three wide and without cover. He said BORN DRAGON then came under pressure before the Home Turn and weakened in the Straight. When questioned, Apprentice K K Chiong stated that having been instructed to ride DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS in a forward position, she rode the horse along from the barriers, however, it failed to show any early speed and settled much further back in the field than had been intended. She said DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS travelled satisfactorily and then closed off the race only fairly, but, in her opinion, the horse would derive benefit from its first up start this campaign. A veterinary inspection of DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, Z Purton stated that he was able to assume the lead on GENTILIS as instructed. He said although the pace in the early and middle stages was moderate, the horse, which was wearing blinkers for the first time, tended to over-race when challenged firstly by GRACYDAD and at a later stage BORN DRAGON. He further stated that GENTILIS was rather disappointing in the manner in which it compounded in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of GENTILIS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of GENTILIS was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, GENTILIS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GENTILIS, WHO’STHEDUDE and LOVE CHUNGHWA were sent for sampling.