15/05/2019  Happy Valley  Race 1

COBY WIN was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (injuries to head and both hind legs during transport to Happy Valley). Before being allowed to race again, COBY WIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PRAWN YEAH YEAH began only fairly. HONG KONG WIN lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently began only fairly. CASIMIRO shifted out at the start and bumped AIOLOS which in turn shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of DRAGON DANCE. After this, AIOLOS was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From a wide barrier, REGENCY GEM was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 900 Metres, HAINAN STAR shifted out and brushed MY CHANCE. Approaching the 800 Metres, AIOLOS was awkwardly placed inside the heels of CASIMIRO. For some distance approaching and passing the 200 Metres, K C Ng (REGENCY GEM) lost the use of his right rein. Throughout the race, DRAGON DANCE travelled wide and without cover and then in the Straight gave ground. When questioned regarding his riding of BANDY, G van Niekerk stated that, from the outside barrier, he was asked to shift the horse across behind runners and obtain cover. He said in accordance with his instructions he initially commenced to shift over with REGENCY GEM and approaching the 800 Metres had to steady BANDY further back than he had hoped to improve inside that horse. He said passing the 700 Metres it appeared as though REGENCY GEM was going to shift across to race on the rail and therefore he positioned his horse to be able to improve to that horse’s outside. He said BANDY raced greenly in the middle stages and he rode his mount along after the 600 Metres in order to improve his position as he was aware that BANDY was out of its ground. He said as BANDY was racing greenly, he was reluctant to use the whip on the horse rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. He said he felt that it would be more advantageous to balance up the horse and ride it out hands and heels given that it was a considerable distance from the leaders. He added at all stages after the 600 Metres he continually urged his mount along to improve his position, however, it was not until over the concluding stages of the race that BANDY commenced to finish off the race well. G van Niekerk was advised that his explanation would be reported and told to ensure that horses ridden by him do not get too far out of their ground and are ridden with sufficient vigour so that his riding does not come under question. When questioned, C Y Ho (MY CHANCE) stated that it was intended for the horse to be ridden behind the speed if possible. He said MY CHANCE began very well and obtained the position outside HAINAN STAR in the early stages without having to be ridden along. He said after the 800 Metres MY CHANCE commenced to travel keenly in the lead and he attempted to steady the horse in order to sit off HAINAN STAR rather than racing on terms with that horse. He said however MY CHANCE continued to race very keenly and he believed that he would have had to heavily restrain the horse in order to sit off HAINAN STAR. He said he felt that had he have done this MY CHANCE would have travelled keener still and fought against him and therefore he elected to race outside HAINAN STAR as he believed that this would give his horse the best opportunity to finish off the race. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HAINAN STAR, Z Purton stated that his mount became stirred up prior to the start, however, travelled down to the Start satisfactorily. He said after having MY CHANCE race to his outside in the early and middle stages, HAINAN STAR then came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and weakened noticeably in the Straight. He said at this stage of its career HAINAN STAR is immature and he believed that the horse did not cope with having MY CHANCE race to its outside throughout the race. The performance of HAINAN STAR, favourite for tonight’s race and which finished at the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HAINAN STAR 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 HAINAN STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DRAGON DANCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HAINAN STAR, EVERBRAVE and HONG KONG WIN were sent for sampling.