06/01/2021  Happy Valley  Race 9

EASY GO EASY WIN was withdrawn on by 5.1.21 order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (colic) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HAPPY MY BROTHER (Apprentice C L Chau). Before being allowed to race again, EASY GO EASY WIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. K C Leung (TOYCOON), who weighed in at 119 lbs, was fined the sum of $3,000 for failing to declare a probable 2 lb overweight on the horse at the time of declaration. BEAUTY ANGEL shifted in at the start and inconvenienced MURRAY’S PARTNERS. From wide barriers, AWE and ENRICHMENT were shifted across behind runners soon after the start. C Y Ho (CLEMENT LEGEND) lost the use of his right stirrup iron soon after the start which he regained after travelling a short distance. When being steadied in an endeavour to obtain cover behind LONDON HALL at the winning post on the first occasion, DIVINE UNICORN shifted in and made contact with the hindquarters of that horse and a short distance was checked away from the heels of LONDON HALL. ARROGANT, which was racing outside the heels of DIVINE UNICORN, was hampered in consequence. BLASTOISE raced wide and without cover until approaching the 1000 Metres where it was allowed to improve and shift in to race outside BEAUTY ANGEL after passing the 1000 Metres. After being bumped by HAPPY MY BROTHER (Apprentice C L Chau) which shifted in rounding the Home Turn, BLASTOISE was then steadied when crowded for room between HAPPY MY BROTHER which then lay in due to contact on its hindquarters and CELESTIAL POWER which shifted to the outside of the heels of BEAUTY ANGEL to improve. Apprentice Chau was advised to exercise more care. After passing the 50 Metres, AWE was steadied away from the heels of CLEMENT LEGEND which, after being briefly held up, was shifted to the outside of the heels of CELESTIAL POWER to obtain clear running. After the race, K C Leung reported that with the light weight it was decided to ride TOYCOON in a more forward position. He said after initially settling outside the leader BEAUTY ANGEL, TOYCOON travelled satisfactorily after obtaining cover behind BLASTOISE near the 1000 Metres, however, failed to close off the race. He added, in retrospect, the horse may be better suited by being ridden more patiently. A veterinary inspection of TOYCOON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, K Teetan (MURRAY’S PARTNERS) stated that he was able to obtain a good position in midfield one wide. He said MURRAY’S PARTNERS travelled comfortably enough throughout the early and middle stages, however, when placed under pressure in the Straight was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding and was one-paced. He said following the race he could not detect any abnormalities with the horse which might explain its disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of MURRAY’S PARTNERS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, C Schofield stated that from the outside barrier he was asked to ride ARROGANT more patiently and if he was unable to find a position midfield with cover, it was acceptable for him to take the horse to the rear of the field to avoid covering unnecessary ground. He said the connections had informed him that they felt that ARROGANT was unsuited by being ridden in the lead at its last start and it would benefit from being ridden more conservatively. He said however that after settling at the rear of the field, ARROGANT closed off the race only one-paced and was slightly disappointing. When questioned regarding his riding of LONDON HALL, A Badel stated that he was instructed to ride LONDON HALL positively in the early stages and it was hoped that he would be able to cross CELESTIAL POWER and obtain the box seat. He said Trainer D J Hall also advised him that if he were not able to obtain the box seat, he should remain racing one horse away from the rail rather than being further back in the field and caught on the rail. He said, despite being ridden along in the early stages, LONDON HALL was out-paced and when CELESTIAL POWER showed superior early speed, he remained racing one horse away from the rail and did not take up the available position behind CELESTIAL POWER to comply with his instructions. He said after being crossed by MURRAY’S PARTNERS approaching the winning post on the first occasion, LONDON HALL settled much further back in the field than was anticipated, however, he felt that MURRAY’S PARTNERS would be a good horse to follow as it would take him into the race at the appropriate time. He said making the turn after the 600 Metres LONDON HALL became unbalanced when crowded for room between DIVINE UNICORN and ENRICHMENT which shifted out around the heels of CLEMENT LEGEND and when MURRAY’S PARTNERS did not quicken as he anticipated it would, LONDON HALL remained racing in an awkward position between ENRICHMENT and DIVINE UNICORN for some distance. He added at the entrance to the Straight he shifted LONDON HALL to the inside of the heels of ENRICHMENT to obtain clear running and the horse then closed off the race satisfactorily. He said the horse’s failure to show the anticipated pace in the early stages and the circumstances of the race had been the reason for LONDON HALL being in a rearward position at the entrance to the Straight. A veterinary inspection of LONDON HALL immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. ENRICHMENT, CELESTIAL POWER and BEAUTY ANGEL were sent for sampling.