Stewards today spoke with Mr Jason Patrick, stable foreman for Warwick Farm Trainer Mr Bjorn Barker relative to veterinary examinations ordered of Havana Rey, which raced disappointingly in Race 2 Australian Turf Club Handicap.
Mr Patrick advised that Havana Rey trotted up sound before the stable veterinarian and an endoscopic examination had not revealed any issues. Blood samples were taken from Havana Rey and results will be made available to Stewards later today.
He added that Havana Rey had done well since the disappointing run and is likely to trial at Warwick Farm on Monday 4th – February 2013 with the blinkers being removed.
Blinkers were removed from Havana Rey and the gelding spelled after a disappointing effort at Canterbury Park on the 4th August 2012 whereby the gelding over-raced as it did at Warwick Farm but were then added to the horses gear for Warwick Farm on the recommendation of rider Brenton Avdulla who rode Havana Rey to into 3rd place at Rosehill on the 12th January 2013 B. Avdulla advised that the gear would assist in getting Havana Rey to concentrate in its races.
Glyn Schofield told Stewards that Havana Rey would not settle with the blinkers and recommended they be removed. Following the performance of Havana Rey in its Warwick Farm trial the Stewards will make a ruling as to any future applications to add the blinkers to the gear of Havana Rey.
Source : Racing NSW
