18/01/2012  Happy Valley  Race 5

JUN DAO was withdrawn on 17.1.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FLASHING GUY (B Prebble). Before being allowed to race again, JUN DAO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When leaving the Parade Ring, M Chadwick was dislodged from DANEWIN WINNING. NOBODY BUT YOU, XI YING MEN and HAPPY HA HA were slow to begin. From the outside barrier, SLICK BULLET was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. For the major part of the race, DANEWIN WINNING travelled wide and without cover and near the 500 Metres was taken wider by LOYAL ARMY which shifted out after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of EVER BEAUTY. Approaching the 400 Metres, SUPREME JEWELLERY was awkwardly placed inside the heels of LOYAL ARMY. Shortly after entering the Straight, EVER BEAUTY shifted out and bumped LOYAL ARMY. When being shifted out to obtain clear running near the 200 Metres, HAPPY HA HA was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of LOYAL ARMY which was giving ground. Approaching and passing the 200 Metres, SUPER PLUS was held up for clear running behind EVER BEAUTY which was giving ground and then after obtaining clear running to the outside of EVER BEAUTY passing the 150 Metres, SUPER PLUS was bumped by LOYAL ARMY near the 100 Metres when that horse shifted in. HAWTHORNE and FLASHING GUY were sent for sampling. <19/1/2012 18 January 2012 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 5 (328)> After reviewing the videos of last night’s Happy Valley racemeeting, as is standard practice, the Stewards felt it was appropriate to question Apprentice T H So regarding his riding of SUPER PLUS after the 500 Metres. Accordingly, the Stewards called Apprentice So before them this afternoon. Apprentice So explained that he had been instructed, from barrier 11, to attempt to obtain a midfield position with cover if possible. He said in the early stages he was able to shift SUPER PLUS across and obtain cover in about a midfield position, however, he was not able to shift in closer than three horses off the rail. He said after the 600 Metres he was following DANEWIN WINNING. He said when making the turn after the 600 Metres SUPER PLUS got its head on the side and commenced to lay out. He added near the 500 Metres he observed DANEWIN WINNING being taken in to a four wide position by LOYAL ARMY which at this time shifted out away from the heels of EVER BEAUTY. He said as SUPER PLUS was laying out and as he felt that LOYAL ARMY and DANEWIN WINNING may shift out further rounding the Home Turn, he elected to attempt to obtain inside runs as he was concerned that SUPER PLUS would be required to cover unnecessary ground rounding the Home Turn. He said at the entrance to the Straight he directed SUPER PLUS to the inside of LOYAL ARMY and rode his mount along to obtain a run between that horse and SUPREME JEWELLERY. He said however that after doing this EVER BEAUTY, which was racing in advance of SUPER PLUS, did not quicken as he hoped it would which resulted in SUPER PLUS being held up for clear running behind EVER BEAUTY until near the 150 Metres. Apprentice So stated that after having viewed the videos of this race, in hindsight he should have shifted SUPER PLUS to the outside of DANEWIN WINNING rather than direct his mount in to obtain inside runs. Trainer B K Ng confirmed that he had asked for SUPER PLUS to be ridden in a midfield position with cover in this race if possible. He did say that after the race he had advised Apprentice So that, in his opinion, SUPER PLUS’ chances would have been benefited by the horse being shifted to the outside of DANEWIN WINNING at the entrance to the Home Straight rather than having to obtain inside runs. Apprentice So was advised that whilst the Stewards were satisfied that there was no impropriety associated with his riding of SUPER PLUS in this race, nonetheless they were of the view that he had erred in electing to attempt to obtain inside runs rather than continuing to follow DANEWIN WINNING rounding the Home Turn before shifting directly to that horse’s outside at the entrance to the Straight.