20/01/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

SMILING FACE was slow to begin. JOLLY GOOD HEART lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently began only fairly. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD shifted out at the start and made contact with the hindquarters of AMBITIOUS HEART. NAMJONG CORTEZ began awkwardly. After travelling a short distance, M M JOHNNY was inconvenienced by WINSTON’S LAD which shifted in away from HONEST WAY. After passing the 200 Metres, Apprentice C L Chau (SMILING FACE) momentarily dropped his right rein. Throughout the race, A SMILE LIKE YOURS travelled wide and without cover. After the race, C Soumillon stated that although obliged to race three wide throughout the race, AMBITIOUS HEART always had cover. He said the horse was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close off in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of AMBITIOUS HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, C Schofield stated that although SPLIT OF A SECOND had a good position in the box seat, the horse was never travelling comfortably and changed stride on a number of occasions. He said rounding the Home Turn SPLIT OF A SECOND brushed the running rail and became unbalanced and then was very one-paced in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of SPLIT OF A SECOND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of A SMILE LIKE YOURS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A SMILE LIKE YOURS, WINSTON’S LAD and JOLLY GOOD HEART were sent for sampling.