30/01/2008  Happy Valley  Race 2

AURELIAN was slow into stride. From the outside barrier, PERFECT ATHLETE was taken back to a position with cover. In the early and middle stages, WINNING CHAMP travelled wide and without cover and commenced to give ground at the 500 Metres. Making the turn after the 1000 Metres, VALUE CHOICE was checked to avoid the heels of PERFECT ATHLETE which at this time shifted in when being restrained while awkwardly placed close to the heels of PALIO KING and DRAGON INN which made the turn awkwardly, got its head up and shifted out slightly when being steadied away from the heels of NOBLE ZOOM. In the circumstances, no action was taken. At the 400 Metres, VALUE CHOICE was checked when awkwardly placed inside the heels of MUTUAL GAIN which itself was steadied away from the heels of PALIO KING which lost ground when being steadied while racing between DRAGON INN and LUCKY MAN which shifted in slightly while giving ground. No action was taken. Making the Home Turn, PALIO KING continued to be awkwardly placed inside the heels of LUCKY MAN. At the 200 Metres, P H Lo (PALIO KING) dropped his whip. Over the concluding stages, NOBLE ZOOM (Apprentice K T Yeung) shifted in and raced tight outside DRAGON INN. As a consequence, Apprentice Yeung was disadvantaged in riding his mount out. For the major part of the race, LUCKY MAN travelled wide and without cover. The performance of LUCKY MAN, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, LUCKY MAN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Prior to the declaration of weighed-in, the Stewards considered an application from Trainer A T Millard that VALUE CHOICE be declared a non-runner as a result of having an unfair start. Evidence was taken from Mr Millard and also G Mossé, the rider of VALUE CHOICE, and the official videos were viewed. It was established that as the start was effected, VALUE CHOICE put its head down and as a consequence lost a considerable amount of ground. In those circumstances, the Stewards did not believe VALUE CHOICE had had an unfair start and therefore the horse was deemed to be a runner and weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. TRIUMPHANT GLORY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of TRIUMPHANT GLORY after the race did not show any significant findings. VALUE CHOICE, DRAGON INN and NOBLE ZOOM were sent for sampling.