13/03/2013  Happy Valley  Race 2

WIN IT was slow to begin. From a wide barrier, HIGHEST ACCLAIM was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, EVER INVINCIBLE shifted out, resulting in EASY AHEAD, which was being ridden along, being taken out onto EASY GOLD. Near the 1300 Metres, WIN IT became unbalanced when momentarily crowded for room inside MEGA CASTLE which itself was awkwardly placed inside the heels of RECORD HIGH. Also near the 1300 Metres, CRAIG’S PRIDE became unbalanced when bumped by EVER INVINCIBLE. Passing the 1100 Metres, WIN IT got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BRILLIANT CHARIOT. When questioned, T H So stated that he had been instructed to lead on EASY AHEAD and accordingly he gave the horse a good warm up behind the barriers in an attempt to ensure that it began well and then showed early speed to be able to fulfil his instructions. He said EASY AHEAD began only fairly and he then rode the horse along vigorously after the start to have it travel into a forward position. He said after travelling approximately 50 Metres, it soon became apparent to him that TARREGA would lead the initial stages of the race on the rail and that LITTLE RAINFOREST was being ridden along to obtain a forward position outside that horse. He said he felt that had he continued to ride EASY AHEAD as vigorously as he had in the early stages, this would have been detrimental to the horse’s interests as he had ridden it aggressively to try and have it in a forward position. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion LITTLE RAINFOREST had shifted across to race outside the leader, TARREGA and therefore he obtained the position behind LITTLE RAINFOREST and outside TRAVEL GUIDE. He said when LITTLE RAINFOREST improved its position forward of TARREGA, he allowed EASY AHEAD to stride forward to obtain the position outside TARREGA. He said he felt the sectionals of the race in the early and middle stage were good as LITTLE RAINFOREST established a sizeable margin over the remainder of the field. He added as he felt that the sectionals of the race were good, he had a look around to his inside near the 900 Metres to establish where the remainder of the field was racing in relation to EASY AHEAD so as to ensure that EASY AHEAD was not running at too quick a tempo. He said when TARREGA commenced to give ground after the 800 Metres, he improved his position to narrow the margin between himself and LITTLE RAINFOREST. He said he rode his mount along prior to the 500 Metres, however, EASY AHEAD finished off the race only one-paced. Mr L Ho, the trainer of EASY AHEAD, confirmed the instructions given to Jockey So were for the horse to lead. He said after viewing the videos and taking into consideration the circumstances of the race in the early stages, he was more than satisfied with the endeavours of Jockey So to fulfil his instructions. He said he was of the opinion that EASY AHEAD did not show the early speed tonight that it had done in the past and that it was apparent to him that LITTLE RAINFOREST, a younger horse carrying a light weight, showed superior early speed to EASY AHEAD. A veterinary inspection of EASY GOLD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HIGHEST ACCLAIM, LITTLE RAINFOREST and BRILLIANT CHARIOT were sent for sampling.