23/09/2020  Happy Valley  Race 3

NAMJONG SINGS was slow to begin and consequently raced back in the field. SMILING FACE lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected, resulting in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, SMILING FACE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Near the 650 Metres, WILD WEST WING was taken out by MANAGEMENT SUPREME which shifted to the outside of WE THE SOUTH. This resulted in WILD WEST WING travelling wide and without cover. Passing the 500 Metres, NAMJONG SINGS, which was travelling keenly, was awkwardly placed behind AFTER ME. At the entrance to the Straight, NAMJONG SINGS was shifted out away from the heels of ALL BEST FRIENDS to obtain clear running. In the early part of the Straight, WILD WEST WING got its head on the side and lay in, requiring its rider to change his whip into his right hand and correct WILD WEST WING. Passing the 150 Metres, FORZA ANGEL was steadied when held up for clear running behind WE THE SOUTH. FORZA ANGEL then improved into tight running inside WE THE SOUTH passing the 100 Metres and over the concluding stages raced in restricted room inside that horse which shifted in marginally. Consequently FORZA ANGEL was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. When questioned, M L Yeung stated that he was instructed to give ALL BEST FRIENDS a good warm up behind the barriers and obtain as forward a position as possible. He said it was expected that over the 1000 Metres the horse would not have sufficient speed to be able to be one of the leaders of the race, however, it was hoped that ALL BEST FRIENDS would be able to obtain a trailing position behind the speed. He said ALL BEST FRIENDS began well and he immediately commenced to ride his mount along vigorously to take up as prominent a position as possible. He said, despite his riding of ALL BEST FRIENDS, AFTER ME was able to maintain its position to the inside of his mount without being pushed to do so and therefore he was unable to clear AFTER ME and obtain a position on the rail. He said he continued to ride ALL BEST FRIENDS along approaching and passing the 800 Metres, however, the horse did not show any early speed and he was unable to prevent both FARM BUMPER and ARDENODE, which had drawn wider than ALL BEST FRIENDS and had initially been racing behind his mount, from gaining an advantage over his mount and shifting in front of ALL BEST FRIENDS. After considering Jockey Yeung’s evidence and after viewing the videos, the Stewards accepted his explanation. NAMJONG SINGS, FARM BUMPER and WILD WEST WING were sent for sampling.