05/03/2014  Happy Valley  Race 6

ALWAYS SOMETHING was withdrawn on 4.3.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HORSE APLENTY (K C Leung). Before being allowed to race again, ALWAYS SOMETHING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AMBASSADORSHIP began awkwardly. Approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion, SUPERNINSKY proved difficult to settle and got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of HORSE APLENTY. Passing the 1100 Metres, MARTIAL KING shifted out and inconvenienced REAL GENEROUS. MARTIAL KING then made the turn after the 1000 Metres awkwardly, got its head on the side and shifted out. MARTIAL KING lost its right hind plate near the 900 Metres. Near the 850 Metres, MR MEDICI shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of DUAL HAPPY, resulting in JAMESINA becoming unbalanced when taken wider. DUAL HAPPY was badly held up for clear running from on straightening until after the 150 Metres. Near the 100 Metres, BEST SHOW was checked after attempting, for some distance, to obtain running inside SUPERNINSKY where there was insufficient room. When questioned, Z Purton stated that he had been asked to ride REDWOOD BABY, from barrier 11, more positively as it was anticipated that the race would be run at a moderate tempo and were REDWOOD BABY to be taken across behind runners in the early stages the horse would be left with too much to do and would be disadvantaged by the anticipated circumstances of the race. He said it was hoped that he may be able to obtain a position in front of midfield with cover. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode REDWOOD BABY along in the early stages and commenced to shift the horse across near the 1700 Metres. He said he felt he may be able to obtain a position behind DUAL HAPPY before that horse was able to shift across, however, he was awkwardly placed outside the heels of DUAL HAPPY and that horse was able to shift in to race in a position one horse off the fence. He added MR MEDICI maintained its position behind DUAL HAPPY in the run to the winning post on the first occasion which resulted in REDWOOD BABY being left racing in a three wide position without cover for the remainder of the race. Trainer C S Shum confirmed the instructions he provided to Jockey Purton. He said prior to the race he was concerned that the tempo of the race would be relatively sedate and he felt that there may be an opportunity to obtain a more forward position with cover if the circumstances of the race were advantageous to REDWOOD BABY. He said however that due to the circumstances of the race REDWOOD BABY was not able to obtain cover. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that, from barrier 2, it was anticipated that ADMIRAL LORD would be able to obtain a midfield position. He said he was advised not to ride his mount along in the early stages as ADMIRAL LORD had previously shown a tendency to over-race in its races when ridden along in the early stages and consequently did not finish off those races. He said as the start was effected ADMIRAL LORD was slow to begin and he attempted to have it improve its position inside BEST SHOW without riding it along vigorously. He said he was unable to prevent BEST SHOW from shifting across to the rail in the early stages and consequently ADMIRAL LORD was left racing further back in the field than had been intended. He added entering the Back Straight he shifted ADMIRAL LORD away from the rail and improved to race outside BEST SHOW and near the 600 Metres further improved his position to be racing outside BANKSTERS BONUS. He said he commenced to ride his mount along at the 500 Metres to ensure that ADMIRAL LORD was able to race as close to MR MEDICI which was racing in advance of ADMIRAL LORD as possible. He said near the 400 Metres he considered shifting ADMIRAL LORD to the outside of runners to make its finishing run, however, he felt that as MR MEDICI and AMBASSADORSHIP were shifting out, ADMIRAL LORD would be taken necessarily wide which would be detrimental to its chances to finish off the race. He said when MR MEDICI shifted out, this created a run to the inside of that horse and at the entrance to the Straight he immediately shifted ADMIRAL LORD in with a view to shifting in further and obtaining a run inside DUAL HAPPY. He added near the 250 Metres after improving inside DUAL HAPPY, ADMIRAL LORD was then unable to continue shifting to the inside of MARTIAL KING which was giving ground due to BANKSTERS BONUS having obtained that run. He said this resulted in ADMIRAL LORD being held up. He said as a run was developing between DUAL HAPPY and MARTIAL KING, he elected to continue to pursue this run as, in his opinion, he was too far up inside the heels of DUAL HAPPY and would have had to steady and lose ground in order to come to the outside of that horse. He said however that the run never fully materialized between those horses and consequently ADMIRAL LORD was not able to be properly tested. C Y Ho was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, wherever possible, he must make every endeavour to ensure his mounts obtain clear and uninterrupted running. A veterinary inspection of ADMIRAL LORD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of BANKSTERS BONUS and REAL GENEROUS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. REDWOOD BABY, HORSE APLENTY and MR MEDICI were sent for sampling.