10/04/2013  Happy Valley  Race 6

WINNING BEAR was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, GERONIMO MEADOW shifted out and bumped ELECTRONIC FORTUNE. From the outside barrier, DILIGENT III was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, YOUNG TALENT and TRAVEL GUIDE bumped. After the 1200 Metres, GOOD FRIENDS MAGIC was left racing wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. Near the 1100 Metres, RAY’S FAVOURITE got its head on the side and shifted in, resulting in GERONIMO MEADOW being crowded for room. After this, GERONIMO MEADOW proved difficult to settle for some distance and got its head up on a number of occasions. Near the 600 Metres, WINNING BEAR became unbalanced when momentarily crowded for room inside AMBITIOUS TREASURE which shifted in slightly and then shifted in further after making contact with WINNING BEAR. Just prior to the 200 Metres, ELECTRONIC FORTUNE was steadied and shifted to the outside of FUN HEROES when disappointed for running between that horse and YOUNG TALENT which got its head on the side and shifted out. After being shifted out from behind FUN HEROES, ELECTRONIC FORTUNE was then momentarily crowded for room between that horse and TRAVEL GUIDE, both of which shifted ground. Over the final 100 Metres, ELECTRONIC FORTUNE got its head on the side and hung in, resulting in its rider, T Angland, changing his whip into his right hand close to the finishing line. In the Straight, AMBITIOUS TREASURE got its head on the side and hung out. When questioned regarding the improved performance of GERONIMO MEADOW, Trainer C W Chang stated that the horse’s best run in Hong Kong had been at Happy Valley over 1200 Metres three starts ago. He said following its last start over 1400 Metres, the rider of the horse recommended that he should consider stepping the horse up in trip in its future runs and therefore acting on this recommendation he stepped the horse up to 1650 Metres of tonight’s race. He said, in his opinion, the step-up in distance together with the track conditions and the fact that the horse had drawn barrier 1 were all factors in the improved performance of GERONIMO MEADOW. He said the horse had won overseas prior to being imported into Hong Kong on a track with give in the surface. He added GERONIMO MEADOW had done well since its last run and he had not changed the horse’s training pattern following that race. A veterinary inspection of GOOD FRIENDS MAGIC and AMBITIOUS TREASURE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of WINNING BEAR immediately following the race revealed the horse to have bled from both nostrils. ELECTRONIC FORTUNE, GERONIMO MEADOW and DILIGENT III were sent for sampling.