17/01/2018  Happy Valley  Race 6

HIGH FIVE was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever and swollen both hind legs). Before being allowed to race again, HIGH FIVE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Shortly after the start, FAIRY TWINS was awkwardly placed between BREEDERS’ STAR and POWERMAX which got its head on the side and shifted out. Also after travelling a short distance, DASHING GAINER shifted out and bumped DIAMOND MASTER. From a wide barrier, HARBOUR ALERT was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching and passing the 900 Metres, ARM RUNDA travelled keenly and then approaching the 850 Metres raced tight inside CHAMPION PRIDE which got its head on the side and lay in away from DASHING GAINER. After this, ARM RUNDA continued to travel keenly. Near the 850 Metres, ROYAL MOJITO raced in restricted room inside FAIRY TWINS. After the 800 Metres, POWERMAX was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 750 Metres, FAIRY TWINS was momentarily crowded for room inside JADE THEATRE which shifted in abruptly when being checked away from the heels of POWERMAX. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, ROYAL MOJITO got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of FAIRY TWINS. After this, ROYAL MOJITO, despite being ridden along, was reluctant to maintain its position inside FAIRY TWINS. Near the 500 Metres, BREEDERS’ STAR was hampered when improving into tight running between ROYAL MOJITO and DIAMOND MASTER. Rounding the Home Turn, FAIRY TWINS was awkwardly placed behind CHAMPION PRIDE. Approaching the 250 Metres, BREEDERS’ STAR was awkwardly placed outside the heels of JADE THEATRE when improving into tight running between that horse which shifted out and DIAMOND MASTER. When questioned regarding the performance of ARM RUNDA, O Doleuze stated that, from the horse’s inside barrier, he was asked to ride it behind the leaders if possible. He said he had to ride his mount along in the early stages to maintain his positon inside CHAMPION PRIDE and then making the turn after the 1000 Metres ARM RUNDA commenced to travel keenly. He said he again had to ride his mount along after the 900 Metres when racing tight inside CHAMPION PRIDE and because of this ARM RUNDA would not relax as well as it had done for him previously. He said ARM RUNDA travelled only fairly after the 800 Metres and then rounding the Home Turn was able to improve inside DASHING GAINER when that horse shifted away from the rail. He added, despite being tested, ARM RUNDA would not respond to his riding and gave him the impression that the horse was reluctant to stretch out fully. He said he did note that at its last start when successful and on another occasion when ridden by him when ARM RUNDA had performed well, the horse had been able to relax in its races and then make its run to the outside of horses which was not an option available to the horse in tonight’s race. He said nonetheless ARM RUNDA was disappointing in the fact that it did not respond to his riding at any stage in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of ARM RUNDA immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. The performance of ARM RUNDA, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ARM RUNDA will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of CHAMPION PRIDE and ROYAL MOJITO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ROYAL MOJITO, JADE THEATRE and BREEDERS’ STAR were sent for sampling.