09/04/2014  Happy Valley  Race 5

FLYING IN began awkwardly. ROBUST MOMENTUM was badly crowded for room at the start between ONGOING VOLATILITY and OWNERS’ GLORY which shifted in abruptly. A short distance later, both ONGOING VOLATILITY and ROBUST MOMENTUM were checked when crowded for room between BACKBENCH BLUES which got its head on the side and shifted out and OWNERS’ GLORY which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider and became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by ROBUST MOMENTUM. From a wide barrier, DRAGON PINS was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Passing the 1600 Metres, ROBUST MOMENTUM was checked when attempting to improve between ONGOING VOLATILITY and BACKBENCH BLUES where there was insufficient room. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, ROBUST MOMENTUM proved difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ONGOING VOLATILITY. After being left racing wide and without cover passing the winning post on the first occasion, OWNERS’ GLORY was allowed to stride forward to race outside the lead. Passing the 1300 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR raced in restricted room between OWNERS’ GLORY and SUPERKING DRAGON, both of which shifted ground. Near the 1100 Metres, HAPPY CENTENARY was left racing wide and without cover. After being crossed by OWNERS’ GLORY near the 1100 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR (Apprentice K C Ng) commenced to prove difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of OWNERS’ GLORY. Then approaching the 1000 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR continued to over-race when being checked away from the heels of OWNERS’ GLORY which was being steadied after shifting in to race outside the lead. Passing the 1000 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR shifted out slightly, resulting in OXFORD CHARLEY, which had been awkwardly placed close to the heels of HELENE FUN STAR for some distance, improving into tight running inside HELENE FUN STAR. When HELENE FUN STAR was shifted back in to resume racing in a two wide position behind OWNERS’ GLORY, OXFORD CHARLEY was checked and taken in across the rightful running of FLYING IN which was severely checked. SPICY SIAM, which was following that horse, was severely checked in consequence, blundered and shifted out, resulting in DRAGON PINS, which was following SPICY SIAM, being severely checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence and shifting out abruptly. After considering all the circumstances of this incident, which was one of some significance, the Stewards formed the view that HELENE FUN STAR, when over-racing, had not shifted out into a true three wide position and that OXFORD CHARLEY had improved into tight running inside that horse. Apprentice Ng was told that the Stewards accepted that HELENE FUN STAR had not shifted into a true three wide position and therefore he may not have been aware that OXFORD CHARLEY had improved to his inside. Nonetheless he was advised that after his mounts shift ground, he should, wherever possible, be alert to the prospect of horses improving to his inside, particularly in races which are being run at a moderate tempo. Near the 1000 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of OWNERS’ GLORY. Near the 800 Metres, HAPPY CENTENARY was shifted out away from the heels of HELENE FUN STAR which shifted away from the heels of OWNERS’ GLORY. At the 600 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR raced in restricted room between HAPPY CENTENARY and OXFORD CHARLEY which was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HOLY MAC. Passing the 450 Metres, FLYING IN raced tight inside OXFORD CHARLEY which got its head on the side and shifted in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of OWNERS’ GLORY. Then rounding the Home Turn, FLYING IN raced tight inside OWNERS’ GLORY when improving inside that horse. HELENE FUN STAR lost its right front plate near the 350 Metres. At the 300 Metres, OXFORD CHARLEY was steadied when attempting to establish running between HELENE FUN STAR and OWNERS’ GLORY which shifted out. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY CENTENARY and SPICY SIAM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ROBUST MOMENTUM, SUPERKING DRAGON and HOLY MAC were sent for sampling.