04/12/2013  Happy Valley  Race 2

HELEN’S CHOICE, which was fractious in the barriers and was leaning against the outside of its stall when the start was effected, bounded in the air and consequently lost ground. Passing the 800 Metres, HELEN’S CHOICE, which was racing ungenerously, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of D DAY SUPER when momentarily racing tight inside SPLENDID VICTORY. Also passing the 800 Metres, MASSIVE was steadied away from the heels of LOVELY BOY (C Soumillon) which shifted in when not properly clear. C Soumillon was advised to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. Making the first turn after the 600 Metres, O’HALO raced in restricted room between BRILLIANT PROPOSAL and LOVELY BOY. Rounding the Home Turn, O’HALO was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LOVELY BOY. Near the 150 Metres, D DAY SUPER was bumped on the hindquarters by O’HALO which was taken in by CALL ME ACHIEVER which, when giving ground, shifted in under pressure. Throughout the race, CALL ME ACHIEVER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, M Guyon stated that he was instructed if K-MOOCHI showed sufficient speed to take up a forward position, he should attempt to lead or be as close to the lead as possible. He said however he was advised that if K-MOOCHI, which was coming back in distance tonight from 1400 Metres, did not show sufficient speed, he should allow the horse to be balanced up and be in as close a position without having to be pressured to do so. He said he was told that K-MOOCHI had raced ungenerously on occasions in the past and he should be aware of this, particularly rounding the turns. He said he rode his mount along out of the barriers, however, K-MOOCHI was checked a short distance after the start when crowded for room between LOVELY BOY which shifted in and MASSIVE which was taken out by O’HALO. He said this resulted in K-MOOCHI losing ground. He said he then attempted to take a more forward position on K-MOOCHI, however, DOUBLE MASTER was shifted in from the outside of K-MOOCHI and was clearly showing more speed than his horse. He said because of this he had to come away from the heels of DOUBLE MASTER approaching the 800 Metres which resulted in K-MOOCHI racing further back in the field than had been hoped. He added he did consider riding K-MOOCHI along passing the 800 Metres to improve its position, however, D DAY SUPER was shifting in to his outside and he did not believe that K-MOOCHI would show sufficient speed to prevent that horse from shifting in and therefore he allowed D DAY SUPER to cross to the rail. He said approaching the first turn K-MOOCHI got its head up and commenced to race ungenerously and then making the turn after the 600 Metres hung out. He said after the 500 Metres he commenced to ride his mount along, however, K-MOOCHI continued to hang out until entering the Home Straight. He said when balanced up in the Straight, K-MOOCHI then found the line strongly. Mr C H Yip, the trainer of K-MOOCHI, confirmed that it had been intended for K-MOOCHI to be ridden in a forward position if the horse showed sufficient speed, however, as he was mindful that the horse was coming back in distance from 1400 Metres to 1000 Metres, he provided Jockey Guyon with an alternate set of instructions that if K-MOOCHI did not show early speed, he should obtain as good a position as possible on the horse. He added he advised Jockey Guyon that the horse had previously raced ungenerously on occasions and having in mind the tight turns at Happy Valley Racecourse he particularly instructed Jockey Guyon to be aware that the horse may want to hang out. He said given the circumstances of the race, he was satisfied with Jockey Guyon’s riding of K-MOOCHI in tonight’s race. A veterinary inspection of K-MOOCHI immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BRILLIANT PROPOSAL and DOUBLE MASTER were sent for sampling.