09/04/2008  Happy Valley  Race 6

PERFECT MATCH was slow to begin, then lost further ground when crowded for room between WONG’S FAVOURITE and PRIDEOFTHEORIENT which on jumping shifted out. SUPER SURPRISE and REWARDING STAR were taken across behind runners at the start. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, TRAVEL LEADER failed to muster speed, then after passing the winning post on the first occasion when raced wide on the track was steadied to obtain a position with cover. Making the turn at the 1000 Metres, PRIDEOFTHEORIENT broke down and lost ground quickly. SUPER SURPRISE, which was following, was checked severely and shifted out, causing REWARDING STAR and TRAVEL LEADER to be hampered and carried wider. Also PERFECT MATCH, which was following, was checked severely, shifted out, hampered SAMBUOYANT and carried that horse wider. Passing the 200 Metres, SUPER SURPRISE had some difficulty obtaining clear running, then at the 50 Metres when closing the race off was steadied away from the heels of WONG’S FAVOURITE which shifted out. After this, SUPER SURPRISE continued to have difficulty obtaining clear running in the run to the line between WONG’S FAVOURITE and REWARDING STAR. When questioned regarding the poor performance of EVERGREEN, W M Lai said his mount was left racing in a three wide position without cover at the 1200 Metres. He said as a consequence of this when he commenced to ride EVERGREEN along after the 500 Metres, his mount failed to respond to his riding and commenced to give ground. He said in his opinion the circumstances of the race accounted for the poor performance of EVERGREEN. EVERGREEN was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. A veterinary inspection of EVERGREEN after the race did not show any significant findings. F Coetzee (HAPPY ALL AROUND) explained the intention had been to lead. He said HAPPY ALL AROUND began well and he immediately travelled into a forward position. He said he noticed FISHKING EXCELLENT and KING OF FISH being hard ridden approaching the winning post on the first occasion and in his opinion he would have been required to make too much use of his mount to obtain the lead, he therefore elected to allow those runners to cross, resulting in him travelling in a two wide position behind the lead. He said for a short distance near the 900 Metres HAPPY ALL AROUND commenced to travel keenly, however, he was able to relax his mount and it continued to travel comfortably until entering the Home Straight where it did not quicken when placed under pressure. HAPPY ALL AROUND was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY ALL AROUND after the race did not show any significant findings. FISHKING EXCELLENT, which had been hard ridden in the early stages to obtain the lead and gave ground in the Straight, was sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, FISHKING EXCELLENT was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. WONG’S FAVOURITE and REWARDING STAR were sent for sampling.