19/01/2011  Happy Valley  Race 2

CAGA BOY was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards (family bereavement). Shortly after the start, MAKE IT was checked when crowded for room between QUANTUM POWER and LINKED WIN which was taken out by SLEEPCARE which shifted out after bumping with DARPANA at the start. From the outside barrier, LUCKY TYCOON was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. From a wide barrier, FORTUNE GENERAL was taken across behind runners shortly after the start and then making the turn at the 1000 Metres was left racing wide and without cover. For this reason, FORTUNE GENERAL was taken back further in order to obtain cover behind EAGLE STAR near the 600 Metres. After the 600 Metres, LINKED WIN was momentarily crowded for room inside GOOD SMILE (H W Lai) which shifted in. H W Lai was reprimanded and advised to leave sufficient room for runners to his inside in future. Near the 500 Metres, DARPANA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SLEEPCARE. At the 500 Metres, LUCKY TYCOON became unbalanced when being steadied away from the heels of MAKE IT. Approaching the 200 Metres, GO LEGEND GO shifted out and bumped GOOD SMILE which became unbalanced. Approaching the 100 Metres, when struck with the whip in the right hand, FORTUNE GENERAL shifted out abruptly. After this, FORTUNE GENERAL continued to race with its head on the side. Over the final 100 Metres, GO LEGEND GO got its head on the side and hung out. When questioned, W C Marwing (DARPANA) stated that after straightening he intended to obtain running to the outside of LINKED WIN. He said however that near the 200 Metres he was obliged to shift to the inside of that horse which shifted out. He said he then positioned DARPANA to take a run between GO LEGEND GO and GOOD SMILE, however, GO LEGEND GO hung out and for this reason he directed DARPANA to the inside of that horse passing the 100 Metres. He said as he felt that DARPANA was giving of its best when obtaining clear running after the 100 Metres, he did not use the whip on the horse but rather he rode it out vigorously hands and heels to the line. When questioned regarding the performance of QUANTUM POWER which was having its first start tonight, Z Purton stated that his mount raced greenly and was not suited by the slow tempo of the race. He said near the 1100 Metres QUANTUM POWER got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of GO LEGEND GO. He said making the first turn near the 1000 Metres QUANTUM POWER proved difficult to settle and shifted out across the heels of GOOD SMILE. He said after the 800 Metres QUANTUM POWER attempted to improve to the inside of the heels of GOOD SMILE where there was not sufficient room and proved difficult to steady away from the heels of that horse. He added after the 600 Metres QUANTUM POWER was left racing wide and without cover. He said although QUANTUM POWER was steadied when crowded for room between MAKE IT and LINKED WIN near the 150 Metres, the horse was giving ground at that point and this incident had no effect on its finishing position. He added that, in his opinion, QUANTUM POWER’s performance could be attributed to the fact that it raced greenly throughout and he believed that QUANTUM POWER would benefit from tonight’s race experience. A veterinary inspection of QUANTUM POWER after the race did not show any significant findings. QUANTUM POWER, GO LEGEND GO and MULTIPROUD were sent for sampling.