15/04/2020  Happy Valley  Race 8

MERIDIAN GENIUS was withdrawn on 14.4.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter AMAZING KNIGHT (J Moreira). Before being allowed to race again, MERIDIAN GENIUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FANTASTIC FEELING shifted out at the start and bumped WINNING METHOD which became unbalanced and shifted out further, resulting in AMAZING KNIGHT being hampered. SUPERB DADDY began only fairly and from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, HINCHINLOVE was also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runner to obtain cover. ISLAND SHINE lost its left front plate in the early stages. Making the turn near the 1000 Metres, MIG ENERGY was steadied in attempt to obtain cover behind TELECOM PUMA. MIG ENERGY then travelled keenly and was unable to obtain cover behind TELECOM PUMA due to WINNING METHOD improving its position. MIG ENERGY was consequently allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead passing the 700 Metres. Passing the 200 Metres, MIG ENERGY shifted out under pressure and raced tight with WINNING METHOD. MIG ENERGY and WINNING METHOD then bumped passing the 150 Metres, resulting in WINNING METHOD becoming unbalanced, shifting in and inconveniencing MIG ENERGY approaching the 100 Metres. When questioned, C Schofield stated that he was instructed to ride G UNIT more quietly in tonight’s race than it had previously been the case as G UNIT had not been finishing off its most recent races when ridden for speed. He said in accordance with his instructions he steadied G UNIT in the early stages and making the turn at the 1000 Metres was able to obtain a trailing position behind the eventual winner ISLAND SHINE. He said G UNIT travelled fairly throughout the race and after being shifted to the outside of runners at the entrance to the Straight finished off the race satisfactorily. The Stewards will interview Mr J Moore, the trainer of G UNIT, at the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Sunday, 19 April 2020 regarding this matter. After the race, Apprentice C Wong stated that he was initially able to obtain an outright lead on CONFUCIUS DAY, however, when MIG ENERGY improved its position to be racing outside CONFUCIUS DAY passing the 700 Metres, his mount came off the bridle and then, being up in grade tonight, did not finish off its race. A veterinary inspection of CONFUCIUS DAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING KNIGHT and TELECOM PUMA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VICTORY POWER, ISLAND SHINE and WINNING METHOD were sent for sampling. <19/4/2020 15 April 2020 Happy Valley Racemeeting>The Stewards today interviewed Trainer J Moore regarding the instructions he provided to C Schofield on how G UNIT should be ridden in this race. Mr Moore explained that he was of the opinion that G UNIT had difficulty in seeing out 1200 Metres at this stage of its career. He said at its last start over 1000 Metres when ridden in a forward position G UNIT was left racing wide and did not finish off the race strongly. He said he felt that even though G UNIT was up in distance in this race, he was concerned that the horse may again be left racing wide and possibly without cover due to the makeup of the field and the horse beginning from barrier 7. He said for all these reasons he instructed C Schofield to steady his mount in the early stages and obtain a position in about midfield with cover if possible. He said G UNIT had to be steadied after the 1100 Metres to obtain cover behind WINNING METHOD one horse off the rail and this resulted in G UNIT being slightly further back in the field than had been hoped, however, he was happy with the position that G UNIT was able to obtain in the early stages. He added, whenever possible, it would be his intention to obtain cover with G UNIT as he is of the view that the horse races best when ridden in this manner, however, depending on the circumstances of the race when the horse draws better than it did on this occasion, this may result in G UNIT being more prominently positioned than in this race.