14/01/2015  Happy Valley  Race 7

FIVE UP HIGH and ALL WIN BOY bumped at the start. FIVE UP HIGH and ALL WIN BOY were then crowded for room inside ALL THE BEST, resulting in CLEVER BEAVER being taken in across the heels of SUPREME FALCON and being hampered. From the outside barriers, STEP FASTER and POPPING CANDY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Making the first turn near the 1000 Metres, ORIENTAL PROSPER got its head up and raced keenly when being steadied to allow GORGEOUS DEBUT to cross. Making the first turn after the 1000 Metres, GENTILIS proved difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FIVE UP HIGH. After the 1000 Metres, GOLDEN DEER was steadied away from the heels of SILLY BUDDIES (K Teetan) which shifted in when not quite clear. K Teetan was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. For some distance approaching and passing the 800 Metres, POPPING CANDY and ALL THE BEST both proved difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GENTILIS and GOLDEN DEER respectively. At the 600 Metres, SILLY BUDDIES was taken wider by FIVE UP HIGH which shifted out away from the heels of SUPREME FALCON after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. For some distance approaching the 500 Metres, STEP FASTER got its head up when being checked away from the heels of ALL WIN BOY and near the 450 Metres shifted out, resulting in POPPING CANDY becoming unbalanced when crowded for room inside GOLDEN DEER. After the 150 Metres, ALL THE BEST shifted in under pressure and raced tight outside GOLDEN DEER. ALL THE BEST and GOLDEN DEER then continued to race tight until near the 50 Metres due to ALL THE BEST hanging in. Passing the 100 Metres, ORIENTAL PROSPER and GORGEOUS DEBUT made contact due to both horses shifting ground. GORGEOUS DEBUT (M Guyon) then shifted out further after becoming unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by ORIENTAL PROSPER. M Guyon was advised that whilst there was contribution to this incident by ORIENTAL PROSPER, nonetheless he was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he makes every endeavour to keep his mounts on a straight course. Over the concluding stages, CLEVER BEAVER, GORGEOUS DEBUT and SUPREME FALCON raced tight. Close to the finishing line, GENTILIS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ALL WIN BOY. Throughout the race, SILLY BUDDIES travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, J Moreira stated that it has been intended for GENTILIS to be ridden in a forward position. He said he was asked to lead on GENTILIS however, if the pace of the race was strong in the early stages, he should attempt to obtain cover behind the leaders if possible. He said after being loaded, GENTILIS initially stood well in the barriers, however, just prior to the start being effected, GENTILIS became fractious and as the gates opened was sitting back in its stall which resulted in it lifting its front feet off the ground and being slow to begin. He said when this happened he believed that to ride GENTILIS forward at that time was not in the horse’s best interests given that it was anticipated that there was going to be good speed in the race from runners drawn more favourably and that had he have pursued a forward position on GENTILIS, he would likely have been left racing wide and without cover. He said he therefore elected to shift GENTILIS across behind runners and obtain cover with a view to being able to finish off the race. He added making the first turn near the 1000 Metres GENTILIS commenced to prove difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FIVE UP HIGH. He said after this GENTILIS was able to travel more comfortably and making the Home Turn was able to improve its position to be racing behind the eventual winner SUPREME FALCON. He said however that after being placed under pressure in the Straight, GENTILIS did not finish off its race. Mr C H Yip, the trainer of GENTILIS, confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Moreira to obtain a forward position if possible. A veterinary inspection of GENTILIS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CLEVER BEAVER, SUPREME FALCON and GORGEOUS DEBUT were sent for sampling.