14/04/2013  Happy Valley  Race 5

GLORY OF INDIA began awkwardly. From wide barriers, SECRETARY OF STATE and BURGUNDY MAC were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 500 Metres, DANZULU was taken wider by GOOD THINKER which shifted out to improve. After being awkwardly placed behind KHARU near the 300 Metres, YOUNG HERO was held up for clear running near the 100 Metres when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BUDDY WATSON. Approaching the 250 Metres, YUAN’S FORTUNE was shifted out from behind the tiring HOLLYWOOD KISS after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse for some distance. For some distance after the 200 Metres, BURGUNDY MAC was held up for clear running when unable to improve between HOLLYWOOD KISS which was continuing to give ground and YUAN’S FORTUNE. Then over the concluding stages, BURGUNDY MAC was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SECRETARY OF STATE which got its head on the side and shifted in under pressure. When questioned, Y T Cheng stated that he was instructed to take up a forward position if possible on HOLLYWOOD KISS from the outside barrier and accordingly he rode the horse aggressively in the early stages, however, HOLLYWOOD KISS failed to show early speed. He said despite being positive on HOLLYWOOD KISS, DANZULU, which was drawn to his inside, clearly showed superior speed in the early stages and for this reason approaching the winning post on the first occasion he shifted HOLLYWOOD KISS in to obtain cover behind DANZULU. He said near the 1400 Metres DANZULU was steadied and this resulted in HOLLYWOOD KISS commencing to prove difficult to settle and shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. He said HOLLYWOOD KISS was travelling too strongly at this time and as he anticipated that DANZULU would continue to be steadied by its rider, he elected to allow HOLLYWOOD KISS to improve its position around that horse. He said this resulted in HOLLYWOOD KISS, after the 1100 Metres, racing in a three wide position outside the leaders, KHARU and BUDDY WATSON. He added he did not believe it was in the best interests of HOLLYWOOD KISS to continue to improve in an attempt to obtain a position closer to the rail as had he have done this, he believed that HOLLYWOOD KISS would then not have been able to finish off the race and consequently HOLLYWOOD KISS was obliged to remain racing wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. A veterinary inspection of GOOD FELLOW immediately following the race revealed the horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, GOOD FELLOW will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HO HO LIFE and GOOD THINKER were sent for sampling.