05/10/2017  Happy Valley  Race 5

SPEEDY ACHIEVER was withdrawn on 4.10.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter RADIANT TREASURE (M L Yeung). Before being allowed to race again, SPEEDY ACHIEVER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded into the barriers, GENERAL IRON became fractious and broke through the front gates. GENERAL IRON travelled a short distance before being restrained and returned to the Start at which time the horse was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said that it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, GENERAL IRON will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. NAVAS began only fairly. LOTUS BREEZE also began only fairly and for some distance after the start was ridden along to obtain a forward position. LOTUS BREEZE subsequently travelled wide and without cover throughout the race and in the Straight gave ground. SHALLUCK and MR PICASSO bumped at the start. From the outside barriers, GENERAL IRON and RADIANT TREASURE were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Making the turn passing the 1000 Metres, TRAVEL DATUK was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SHALLUCK which lay out. RADIANT TREASURE raced ungenerously throughout the early and middle stages. For some distance approaching and passing the 800 Metres, SHALLUCK travelled keenly and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BACK IN BLACK. MR PICASSO was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOOD COMPANION. Approaching the 200 Metres, MR PICASSO was shifted to the inside of JUMBO HAPPINESS to obtain clear running and approaching the 100 Metres was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of JUMBO HAPPINESS when attempting to improve into a tight run between that horse and BURST AWAY. For some distance approaching and passing the 200 Metres, RADIANT TREASURE, which was finishing off the race fairly, lay out under pressure and shifted out towards GENERAL IRON (T Berry). RADIANT TREASURE continued to lay out and passing the 150 Metres as its rider, M L Yeung, attempted to use the whip in the left hand, his whip made contact with the neck of GENERAL IRON. For this reason, M L Yeung was obliged to stop riding RADIANT TREASURE to straighten that horse. After being held up for clear running passing the 100 Metres, NAVAS was shifted to the outside of BURST AWAY passing the 50 Metres to continue improving. When questioned, S Clipperton stated that he had been asked to take advantage of BACK IN BLACK’s inside draw and obtain a position forward of midfield if possible. He said after beginning well, he only had to ride BACK IN BLACK along for a short distance in the early stages to establish its position and after this BACK IN BLACK travelled comfortably in a position behind the leaders. A veterinary inspection of LOTUS BREEZE and TRAVEL DATUK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JUMBO HAPPINESS and MR PICASSO were sent for sampling.