05/02/2020  Happy Valley  Race 1

PRAWN YEAH YEAH began very awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of GOLDEN GENERAL which was then crowded for room outside LIGHTNING MISSILE which shifted out. TRIUMPHANT LORD and FOX CHEUNGER were crowded for room on jumping between STARLOT which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider and SHOW MISSION which, after bumping with LA BOMBA on jumping, then became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by TRIUMPHANT LORD. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, STARLOT failed to muster speed and, from a wide barrier, was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. LA BOMBA lost its left front plate in the early stages. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, LIGHTNING MISSILE shifted out and brushed GOLDEN GENERAL (H T Mo) which then shifted out marginally and bumped the shoulder of PRAWN YEAH YEAH, causing GOLDEN GENERAL to become badly unbalanced and stumble. When GOLDEN GENERAL stumbled, it shifted out, causing PRAWN YEAH YEAH to be taken out across SHOW MISSION which was checked and in turn shifted out, causing TRIUMPHANT LORD to also be checked out across the heels of EXPONENTS. STARLOT, which was following, was shifted out to avoid TRIUMPHANT LORD in consequence. Although this incident was one of some significance, the Stewards, after interviewing H T Mo and viewing the videos, were satisfied that no horse or rider was the cause of the incident, rather was as a consequence of GOLDEN GENERAL becoming badly unbalanced after bumping PRAWN YEAH YEAH and therefore no further action was taken. After this, GOLDEN GENERAL proved very difficult to settle and got its head up for some distance when initially awkwardly placed behind PRAWN YEAH YEAH and then LIGHTNING MISSILE. After the 1000 Metres, FOX CHEUNGER, when racing very wide, was steadied to obtain cover. Near the 850 Metres, TRIUMPHANT LORD was shifted out away from the heels of GOLDEN GENERAL which continued to race ungenerously. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, FOX CHEUNGER lay in and brushed the running rail. Making the turn passing the 600 Metres, GOLDEN GENERAL lay in, resulting in SHOW MISSION being crowded for room. GOLDEN GENERAL then got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of EXPONENTS, resulting in GOLDEN GENERAL being awkwardly placed between that horse and SHOW MISSION. LA BOMBA made the Home Turn awkwardly. In the Straight, TRIUMPHANT LORD lay in and proved difficult to ride and passing the 100 Metres was awkwardly placed outside the heels of LA BOMBA. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of LIGHTNING MISSILE, C Y Ho stated that after being instructed to obtain a forward position as occurred last start when the horse was successful, he rode his mount vigorously for some distance in the early stages, however, LIGHTNING MISSILE did not show the same speed that it did last start and was required to race behind the speed tonight. He said LIGHTNING MISSILE did not travel strongly at any stage and he had to continually ride his mount along to maintain his positon. He said, despite riding LIGHTNING MISSILE along for some distance after the 800 Metres, he was unable to prevent PRAWN YEAH YEAH from shifting in in front of his mount near the 600 Metres. He said he shifted LIGHTNING MISSILE to the outside of that horse near the 400 Metres, however, LIGHTNING MISSILE did not quicken and then was very disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground. He added he had ridden the horse in some of its work in the lead up to tonight’s race and in particular the horse’s final gallop on 1 February 2020. He said this work was very good and he felt that, if anything, LIGHTNING MISSILE had improved since its last start success and therefore he was unable to explain tonight’s disappointing performance. Mr K L Man, the trainer of LIGHTNING MISSILE, similarly was unable to offer any explanation for the horse’s performance. He said he agreed with Jockey Ho’s assessment that LIGHTNING MISSILE had worked well since its last start success and based on the standard of the horse’s work he expected it to race well tonight, particularly given the horse’s inside barrier. A veterinary inspection of LIGHTNING MISSILE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of LIGHTNING MISSILE, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LIGHTNING MISSILE 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 PRAWN YEAH YEAH immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea and also confirmed the horse to be a "roarer which had previously been reported. LIGHTNING MISSILE, FOX CHEUNGER and DEMONS ROCK were sent for sampling.