21/11/2018  Happy Valley  Race 3

GREAT VICTORY was slow to begin and then was steadied away from the heels of SHINING ON which shifted in. STRIKING MR C shifted out at the start and bumped KHAKI which became unbalanced. LEISURED FEET shifted out at the start and bumped BURST AWAY. In this incident, BURST AWAY lost its left front plate. From a wide barrier, HAPPY HAPPY STAR was shifted across behind runners shortly after the start. After travelling a short distance, BURST AWAY shifted out and bumped TRAVEL DATUK. Despite being ridden along for some distance in the early stages, WALDORF took some time to muster speed. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, STRIKING MR C and LEISURED FEET bumped, causing both horses and in particular LEISURED FEET to become unbalanced. Passing the 1000 Metres, HAPPY HAPPY STAR was steadied away from the heels of TRAVEL DATUK after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. SMART SALUTE, which was racing to the inside of HAPPY HAPPY STAR, was inconvenienced in consequence. At the 600 Metres, KHAKI became unbalanced when crowded for room inside TRAVEL DATUK which shifted in after being brushed by BURST AWAY. In this incident, HAPPY HAPPY STAR, which was racing outside the hindquarters of KHAKI, was severely checked away from the heels of that horse which shifted out and bumped on the hindquarters of TRAVEL DATUK which became unbalanced. HAPPY HAPPY STAR then shifted out away from the heels of TRAVEL DATUK and bumped WALDORF which became badly unbalanced and was forced wider. STRIKING MR C made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly. Approaching the 250 Metres, TRAVEL DATUK was momentarily impeded when improving between STRIKING MR C and DOLLAR REWARD. Approaching the 200 Metres, KHAKI was hampered when improving into tight running between STRIKING MR C which shifted in and NICE FANDANGO which shifted out marginally when commencing to give ground. Near the 100 Metres, STRIKING MR C, which was awkwardly placed inside TRAVEL DATUK, shifted in and bumped KHAKI, causing both horses to become unbalanced. After the race, K C Leung stated that LEISURED FEET, which was having its first run for the season, weakened in the Straight after having to travel wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of LEISURED FEET immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, C Schofield stated that although KHAKI was bumped by STRIKING MR C on jumping, nonetheless KHAKI did not show sufficient early speed to be able to take up a forward position as it did last start despite being ridden along in the early stages. He said KHAKI did not travel strongly during the early and middle stages and passing the 700 Metres he commenced to ride the horse along vigorously to improve its position to race closer behind SHINING ON. He said after becoming unbalanced when crowded at the 600 Metres, he again had to ride KHAKI along as the horse was not picking up as he expected it would. He said in the Straight KHAKI initially took some time to respond to his riding and after racing in restricted room approaching the 200 Metres, KHAKI then finished off the race well. He added that based on the manner in which KHAKI raced tonight, he recommended to connections that they consider stepping KHAKI up in distance in its future starts. After the race, Apprentice C Wong stated that NICE FANDANGO responded satisfactorily to his riding in the early part of the Straight, however, after the 200 Metres came under severe pressure and then was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of NICE FANDANGO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of BURST AWAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SHINING ON and KHAKI were sent for sampling.