04/12/2016  Shatin  Race 3

WIN FOR CHARITY was slow to begin. GOBI STORM began awkwardly. From the outside barriers, FORTUNE BROTHERS and CURLING LUXURY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, AUTOPAY and GOOD COMPANION bumped. After being steadied to allow HOT HOT PEPPER to cross, AUTOPAY commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head on the side when awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse for some distance approaching the 900 Metres. After the 900 Metres, WIN FOR CHARITY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MONEY BOY. Near the 650 Metres, AUTOPAY again got its head on the side when being steadied away from the heels of FOREVER ACCURATE. After this, AUTOPAY continued to race awkwardly with its head on the side. Passing the 600 Metres, GOBI STORM was awkwardly placed behind SWEET HOME. Approaching and passing the 300 Metres, GOOD COMPANION was steadied when crowded for room between MONEY BOY and SWEET HOME, both of which shifted ground. When questioned, C Schofield stated that he had been asked to ride HAPPY SOUND in a positon with cover from a wide barrier to ensure that it would see out the 1200 Metres of today’s race. He said after beginning well he steadied HAPPY SOUND and after travelling a short distance he was racing wide with a considerable number of horses inside HAPPY SOUND. He said he felt that at this stage to have cleared runners to his inside, he would have had to ride HAPPY SOUND along which may have resulted in the horse racing in a forward position without cover. He said he therefore elected to steady HAPPY SOUND in an attempt to obtain cover, however, due to the circumstances of the race HAPPY SOUND was left racing wide and without cover for the majority of the race. Mr A Lee, the trainer of HAPPY SOUND, said he had hoped that HAPPY SOUND would be ridden in about 5th or 6th position with cover as he believed that over 1200 Metres the horse’s best chance to see out the distance would be by not having to be ridden forward out of the barriers to overcome the wide barrier. He said whilst he had not instructed C Schofield on where HAPPY SOUND should be placed in the field other than asking him to obtain cover, he was surprised that HAPPY SOUND got as far back in the field as it did, however, he accepted C Schofield’s reasons for this. Mr Lee was advised to ensure that he provides his riders with clear instructions on the manner in which he wants horses ridden whilst also providing them with the opportunity to show judgement and initiative when those instructions are not able to be executed. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY SOUND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MONEY BOY, FOREVER ACCURATE and HOT HOT PEPPER were sent for sampling.