07/06/2017  Happy Valley  Race 8

Whilst being saddled, MY LITTLE FRIEND became fractious, reared and hit its head. Acting on veterinary advice that MY LITTLE FRIEND was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, MY LITTLE FRIEND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Shortly after the start, VERBINSKY shifted in abruptly when being ridden along and made contact with CONVINCIBLE, causing both horses to become unbalanced. From the outside barrier, ARCHIPPUS was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. DALRADIAN travelled wide and without cover until the 600 Metres and subsequently weakened to finish tailed out. The performance of DALRADIAN was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DALRADIAN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the 600 Metres, VERBINSKY was left racing wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, ROMANTIC CASH was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DALRADIAN which was giving ground. Also rounding the Home Turn, GOLDEN HARVEST raced tight inside DRAGON GENERAL. Passing the 250 Metres, CONVINCIBLE shifted out away from the heels of VERBINSKY and bumped MR GENUINE, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Near the 25 Metres, MOLLY’S JADE STAR went amiss, resulting in its rider, C Schofield, being dislodged. DRAGON GENERAL, which was following MOLLY’S JADE STAR, was severely checked to avoid that horse. ROMANTIC CASH and VERBINSKY, which were following DRAGON GENERAL, were checked away from the heels of that horse close to the finishing line. In this incident, GOLDEN HARVEST, which was improving to the inside of MOLLY’S JADE STAR, was eased by its rider to avoid the fallen C Schofield and because of this was not ridden out to the end of the race. CONVINCIBLE and ARCHIPPUS were sent for sampling. Samples were also taken from MOLLY’S JADE STAR. <11/6/2017 7 June 2017 Happy Valley Racemeeting-Race 8 (714)>The Stewards today interviewed U Rispoli regarding his riding of DRAGON GENERAL passing the 600 Metres. U Rispoli stated that at this time he was following HAPPY METEOR and although he did not believe that the horse would take him into the race, he was reluctant to shift to the outside of that horse to improve to be racing behind VERBINSKY in a three wide position as DRAGON GENERAL had previously made the turns awkwardly in some of its races. He said although he was aware that CONVINCIBLE was improving its position around DRAGON GENERAL, he felt that were he to shift out at this stage of the race, DRAGON GENERAL may make the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly which would be to the detriment of the horse’s finishing chances. He said he therefore elected to remain racing behind HAPPY METEOR and when that horse shifted out approaching the 500 Metres, he was able to immediately improve his position inside HAPPY METEOR.