09/01/2008  Happy Valley  Race 1

FLYING PROFILE was slow to begin. FISHKING EXCELLENT began awkwardly, shifted in abruptly and bumped SINOSPIEL. Near the 2000 Metres, MULLAAD was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of SINOSPIEL. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, FLYING PROFILE hung in. When questioned, W M Lai (FISHKING EXCELLENT) said he had been instructed to ride the horse in a forward position as close as possible to the rail. He said he allowed FISHKING EXCELLENT to go forward in the early stages, approaching the first turn SINOSPIEL was ridden along to hold its position on his inside and at the same time DANEPRINT and NATURAL ECHO improved quickly around his outside. He said as a consequence of this he was left racing in a three wide position. He said when NATURAL ECHO continued forward passing the winning post on the first occasion, he was then left racing in a midfield position three wide and without cover. He said as this was FISHKING EXCELLENT’s first start over 2200 Metres, he felt he would have been required to make too much use of the horse and have it travel keenly if he rode along in the early stages to clear SINOSPIEL to enable him to shift in. W M Lai was told, bearing in mind the riding instructions he had been issued, his ride on this occasion was not one of his better ones and he should where circumstances permit not cover unnecessary ground. B Prebble (NATURAL ECHO) explained from the start the horse did not show the pace it had at its most recent starts when being ridden in a forward position. He said as a consequence of this NATURAL ECHO travelled wide and without cover until after passing the winning post on the first occasion when he was able to shift to a two wide position. He said even given the work NATURAL ECHO was required to do to obtain a forward position in the early stages, he felt the horse raced as though it was feeling the effects of its most recent runs even though its last race was at the end of November. MAKE A MINT, NATURAL ECHO and DANEPRINT were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of MAKE A MINT and NATURAL ECHO after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, DANEPRINT was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. The performances of MAKE A MINT, NATURAL ECHO and DANEPRINT, which all tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, MAKE A MINT, NATURAL ECHO and DANEPRINT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FLYING PROFILE, WONG’S FAVOURITE and CHALLENGER were sent for sampling.