13/09/2023  Happy Valley  Race 2

KASA PAPA reared as the start was effected and lost ground. D STAR was slow to begin. NICE BIRDIE (Z Purton) jumped only fairly and then was crowded shortly after by PROSECCO which shifted in and away from DRAGON STAR. After the race, Z Purton reported that it was his intention to be more forward on his mount, but after being crowded at the start, NICE BIRDIE was obliged to settle further back in the field than anticipated. He added that as a result of settling back in the field, NICE BIRDIE found it difficult to make up ground, particularly as it is one-paced. A veterinary inspection of NICE BIRDIE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. From the outside barrier, WIN WIN FIGHTER was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 500 Metres, KASA PAPA was held up behind PROSECCO. After the race, M Chadwick (PROSECCO) reported that after his mount was crossed by DURHAM STAR in the middle stages, he was unable to proceed forward for some distance thereafter. He said once into clear running entering the Home Straight, PROSECCO took some time to respond to his riding, but worked home to the finish in a satisfactory manner. A veterinary inspection of PROSECCO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding his riding in the Home Straight, K C Leung (WIN WIN FIGHTER) stated that after the 300 Metres he attempted to shift his mount to the outside of D STAR to secure clear running. He said WIN WIN FIGHTER lay in as he attempted to do so and did not quicken and as a consequence he was unable to establish running to the outside. He added that near the 200 Metres KASA PAPA improved quickly to his outside and when he received a call from its rider, C L Chau, he was unable to continue to endeavour to shift out. He said as a consequence he was obliged to remain racing behind D STAR and then looked to shift to the inside of that runner and STURDY RUBY, but was unable to do so when FEARLESS FIRE was still positioned to his inside. He further added that as a consequence WIN WIN FIGHTER was held up for clear running over the final 100 Metres and could not be fully tested to the finish. The Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Leung were reasonable in the circumstances. A veterinary inspection of FEARLESS FIRE and FORTUNE PRESIDENT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. D STAR and DRAGON STAR were sent for sampling.