24/04/2013  Happy Valley  Race 6

From wide barriers, SPLENDID VICTORY, CROATIA and FOREVER ELATION were all taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Passing the 900 Metres, JOYFUL THE GREAT shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of BOULD MOVER, causing both horses to become unbalanced. At the 600 Metres, THE PRINCE became unbalanced after shifting in and bumping the running rail. At the same point, BOULD MOVER got its head on the side and shifted in, resulting in MY GOAL being crowded for room. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, DISCIPLES TWELVE got its head on the side, shifted out and was checked away from the heels of CHOICE TREASURE, resulting in DISCIPLES TWELVE losing ground. HAPPY CHAMPION, which was racing to the outside of DISCIPLES TWELVE, was hampered when taken wider and SPLENDID VICTORY, which was following DISCIPLES TWELVE, was also hampered in consequence. Also making the turn after the 600 Metres, CROATIA got its head up and made the turn awkwardly. Making the Home Turn, MY GOAL shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of BOULD MOVER. CHOICE TREASURE, which was following BOULD MOVER, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse, resulting in ENSEMBLE being bumped and taken wider. Near the 250 Metres, MY GOAL was momentarily hampered when disappointed for running between BOULD MOVER and THE PRINCE which shifted out. At the 200 Metres, C Y Ho (THE PRINCE) dropped his whip. Approaching the 150 Metres, DISCIPLES TWELVE was shifted to the outside of JOYFUL THE GREAT in an attempt to obtain clear running. A short distance later, DISCIPLES TWELVE (K C Leung) was crowded for room when attempting to improve into tight running between THE PRINCE and JOYFUL THE GREAT (M L Yeung) which shifted out. This resulted in DISCIPLES TWELVE being severely buffeted for room between THE PRINCE and JOYFUL THE GREAT and having to be checked over the concluding stages. In this incident, DISCIPLES TWELVE and THE PRINCE made contact on a number of occasions. M L Yeung was severely reprimanded and told that whilst the Stewards were satisfied that DISCIPLES TWELVE had not established running between JOYFUL THE GREAT and THE PRINCE, nonetheless he should have made more of an effort than he did on this occasion to keep his mount straight. K C Leung was also advised that he should show due care before improving into tight runs in the future. For some distance after the 150 Metres, MY GOAL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of THE PRINCE when racing tight inside BOULD MOVER. HAPPY CHAMPION, CHOICE TREASURE and JOYFUL THE GREAT were sent for sampling.