28/04/2021  Happy Valley  Race 5

SHADOW BREAKER began only fairly and then shifted out and was awkwardly placed inside the hindquarters of DIVINE UNICORN. From wide barriers, CHATER PINS, NUNCHUKS, GRAND POWER and DAZZLING FEELING were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 900 Metres, PIANO SOLO travelled keenly. Rounding the Home Turn, SHADOW BREAKER was held up behind DIVINE UNICORN. C Schofield was fined the sum of $5,000 for weighing in 2 lbs overweight on SHADOW BREAKER. When questioned, C Schofield stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on SHADOW BREAKER and obtain a trailing position behind the speed if possible. He said SHADOW BREAKER began only fairly and as there were a number of horses maintaining their positions inside SHADOW BREAKER in the early stages, he believed that he would have had to make too much use of his mount to clear those horses. He said he therefore elected shortly after the start to steady SHADOW BREAKER and obtain a trailing position behind KING DRAGON and PIANO SOLO which resulted in the horse racing further back in the field than had been intended. After the race, M Chadwick stated that in the early stages he had to make more use of TOYCOON to cross KING DRAGON than he would have liked. He said it was not until passing the winning post on the first occasion that he was able to improve his position forward of that horse after which TOYCOON travelled satisfactorily. He said he had to shift out away from the heels of DIVINE UNICORN at the 500 Metres which was earlier than what he had hoped as that horse had come under heavy pressure. He said this resulted in TOYCOON having to make a more sustained run than anticipated which after the work that was done in the early part of the race resulted in the horse not finishing off the race as well as he had hoped. A veterinary inspection of TOYCOON immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, TOYCOON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of DIVINE UNICORN immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported and also to have sustained a minor laceration to the left hind heel. As this was the 4th occasion that DIVINE UNICORN had been reported to be a "roarer” following the race, the Stewards interviewed Mr W Y So, the trainer of DIVINE UNICORN, regarding this matter. Mr So undertook to liaise with his allocated stable veterinarian as well as Veterinary Officers from the Department of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare and Biosecurity Policy before any decision is made on whether to enter the horse in future races. Before being allowed to race again, DIVINE UNICORN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of KING DRAGON immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. TOYCOON, FA FA and PEARL CHAMPION were sent for sampling.