24/10/2012  Happy Valley  Race 2

SHANGHAI PIONEER began awkwardly and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in DIAMOND ANGEL being hampered. FIRST CLASS, DYNAMIC CROSS and LOVING ALL were all crowded for room at the start between BINGO BINGO and ASMODAI which shifted out after beginning very awkwardly. In this incident, LOVING ALL made heavy contact with the hindquarters of BINGO BINGO, causing that horse to become badly unbalanced. Making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, DIAMOND ANGEL got its head up and proved very difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FASCINATING SMILE which, after reaching the lead, was then steadied by its rider, T Clark. T Clark was warned against the practice of excessively slackening the pace of races. When being steadied near the 900 Metres, ASMODAI got its head up for some distance and proved very difficult to settle. PAR EXCELLENCE also proved difficult to settle after the 900 Metres. Passing the 600 Metres, BINGO BINGO got its head on the side, shifted in and bumped VIVA DOLPHIN. After the 600 Metres, FIRST CLASS shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in ASMODAI being momentarily crowded for room and making contact with the hindquarters of FASCINATING SMILE which became unbalanced. PAR EXCELLENCE and DIAMOND ANGEL, which were racing behind ASMODAI and FASCINATING SMILE respectively, were steadied away from the heels of those horses and bumped, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Approaching the 200 Metres, MING HOI GLORY shifted out away from JUST GOOD and in doing so bumped VIVA DOLPHIN, causing both horses to become unbalanced. For the major part of the race, MING HOI GLORY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, T H So explained that he had been instructed to take up a forward position on FIRST CLASS. He said after riding his mount along in the early stages, after the 1100 Metres he shifted FIRST CLASS in behind ASMODAI with a view to taking the position behind that horse. He said at this time FIRST CLASS commenced to over-race and he was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ASMODAI which was being steadied by its rider. He said because of the manner in which FIRST CLASS was racing, he was not able to maintain his position behind that horse and consequently he was obliged to allow FIRST CLASS to shift to the outside of ASMODAI. He said on entering the Back Straight he was left racing in a four wide position and rather than continue racing wide and without cover, he elected to ride FIRST CLASS along to obtain a position closer to the rail if possible. He added that after having to make some use of FIRST CLASS, he was able to shift in to race outside FASCINATING SMILE after the 600 Metres. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ASMODAI had lost its right front plate. VIVA DOLPHIN, JUST GOOD and SHANGHAI PIONEER were sent for sampling.