21/11/2012  Happy Valley  Race 6

FLYING IN shifted out at the start and hampered FORGIVE AND FORGET. From the outside barriers, CITY POWER and MEGA CHAMPION were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, SUPERKING DRAGON was crowded for room between SOLDIER which shifted in and JUN JU which shifted out after being bumped by LEGEND EXPRESS. Passing the 1600 Metres, FLYING IN and FORGIVE AND FORGET were crowded for room inside AGIAAL which itself was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MIGHTY K. After this, FORGIVE AND FORGET continued to race in restricted room inside AGIAAL. After the 200 Metres, MEGA CHAMPION shifted out under pressure. Throughout the race, SOLDIER travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he had been asked to ride SUPREME WINNER, which was having its first start at Happy Valley tonight, in advance of midfield if possible. He said shortly after the start he steadied SUPREME WINNER with a view to obtaining a trailing position behind ZACHARY and MIGHTY K which he felt were horses that would take up forward positions. He said however that he looked to his inside passing the 1600 Metres and noted AGIAAL was racing in a three wide position with two horses to its inside. He said he felt that had he have steadied SUPREME WINNER to obtain a position behind ZACHARY and MIGHTY K, SUPREME WINNER would have been left racing very wide outside AGIAAL and would have had to steady further to obtain cover which would have resulted in SUPREME WINNER racing further back in the field than had been intended. He said for this reason he allowed his mount to continue to race outside ZACHARY as JUN JU and SOLDIER were travelling in forward positions to his outside. He said he had hoped that those horses would continue on which would allow SUPREME WINNER the opportunity to obtain cover. He said however that SUPREME WINNER commenced to travel strongly and for this reason he was left with no option but to allow SUPREME WINNER to cross ZACHARY rather than remain racing in a three wide position outside that horse. He added that after the 1200 Metres he attempted to steady SUPREME WINNER and the horse commenced to relax, however, passing the 1100 Metres SOLDIER improved its position to be racing outside SUPREME WINNER which resulted in SUPREME WINNER racing keenly. He said because of the manner in which SUPREME WINNER had travelled in the early and middle sages, the horse was then not able to finish off its race. A veterinary inspection of SUPREME WINNER after the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the performance of JUN JU, Y T Cheng stated that although the horse was obliged to race in a three wide position, it was able to obtain cover throughout the race behind SOLDIER. He said JUN JU travelled strongly in the early and middle stages, however, when placed under pressure after the 700 Metres quickly came off the bridle and commenced to give ground. He said he rode the horse vigorously to have it pick up ground, however, the more he rode JUN JU, the more ground it gave. He said as JUN JU was giving ground, its action shortened noticeably and as he felt there may be something amiss with the horse considering the amount of ground it gave between the 700 Metres and the Home Turn, he eased it out of the race at the entrance to the Straight. He added that he was not able to detect any soundness issues with JUN JU immediately after the race. He said although JUN JU was attempting 1650 Metres for the first time tonight, the horse had previously performed well over 1400 Metres and it was expected that JUN JU would be able to see out the distance without any difficulties. A veterinary inspection of JUN JU after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of JUN JU, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, JUN JU will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY K after the race did not show any significant findings. MEGA CHAMPION and FORGIVE AND FORGET were sent for sampling.