12/10/2011  Happy Valley  Race 4

On arrival at the Start, it was noted that ZEPHYRUS had lost its left front plate. This plate was refitted. ZEPHYRUS was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. As the start was effected, HOT PEPPER lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. RIDE ON THE FIRE shifted out at the start, resulting in RAINBOW SEEKER and GOOD LOOKING WATCH being hampered. BREEZE OF LUCK was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching the 1000 Metres, BENEFACTOR shifted in despite the efforts of its rider and made heavy contact with SHIBALA which as a result became unbalanced, shifted in and bumped RIDE ON THE FIRE. After the 500 Metres, GOOD LOOKING WATCH was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LUCKY FAMILY. Over the concluding stages, SAMMY'S FALCON raced in restricted room between HOT PEPPER and GOOD LOOKING WATCH. Throughout the race, SAMMY’S FALCON travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of HOT PEPPER in the Home Straight, G Mossé stated that he placed the horse under pressure rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight after being ridden in a more rearward position than is usual. He said HOT PEPPER did not show any turn of foot when placed under pressure, got its head on the side and lay in. He said he continued to slap the horse down the shoulder with the whip in the right hand in the Straight, however, HOT PEPPER, in his opinion, did not respond to his riding. He added that after the 100 Metres HOT PEPPER again got its head on the side, lay in towards SAMMY’S FALCON and stayed on only one-paced in the run to the line. G Mossé was advised that his riding of HOT PEPPER in the Home Straight had come under notice and that this was the second occasion during this racemeeting that he had been spoken to regarding the manner in which he had ridden out his horses. G Mossé was severely reprimanded and advised that he was being placed on notice that he must at all times fulfil his obligation under the Rules to ride his mounts out in such a manner so as to leave no room for query. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BENEFACTOR, C K Tong stated that at its most recent start when successful BENEFACTOR was able to find the lead without having to have too much use made of it in the early stages. He said tonight with RIDE ON THE FIRE and SHIBALA being drawn inside BENEFACTOR, he had to make considerable use of the horse in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said after being made use of, BENEFACTOR was obliged to sit outside RIDE ON THE FIRE as he was not able to clear that horse to his inside. He added that whilst BENEFACTOR had previously won on a track rated “Good to Yielding”, in his opinion, the horse is better suited on tracks which are not rain affected. He said however that the principal reason for tonight’s performance, in his opinion, was the amount of use that he had to make of the horse in the early stages in contrast to last start. A veterinary inspection of BENEFACTOR after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that RIDE ON THE FIRE had lost its left front plate. RIDE ON THE FIRE, SHIBALA and BREEZE OF LUCK were sent for sampling.