17/03/2021  Happy Valley  Race 9

After being loaded into the barriers, HANDSOME BO BO became fractious and reared on a number of occasions. Before being allowed to race again, HANDSOME BO BO will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. GUNNISON shifted out at the start and bumped WILL POWER. GOLD CHEST began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped HONG KONG BET. From wide barriers, GOLD CHEST and HONG KONG BET were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. A short distance after the start, SCORES OF FUN raced tight between GOLD CHEST and IGNITING which shifted out. After being ridden along in the early stages from a wide barrier, RACING FIGHTER was steadied passing the 1100 Metres and shifted across behind runners after being left racing very wide. After the 1100 Metres, IGNITING got its head on the side and lay in away from WE THE SOUTH. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, KURPANY and GUNNISON raced tight. Approaching the 700 Metres, SHINING GEM momentarily raced tight inside HANDSOME BO BO. At the entrance to the Straight, WINNING METHOD was shifted out away from the heels of WILL POWER. Passing the 250 Metres, GUNNISON raced tight outside the heels of IGNITING. After the 200 Metres, HONG KONG BET was shifted out away from the heels of GUNNISON to continue improving. Approaching the 100 Metres, WINNING METHOD was shifted in away from the heels of IGNITING to continue improving. Over the concluding stages, HONG KONG BET raced tight inside the heels of SHINING GEM and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. When questioned regarding the performance of IGNITING, M F Poon stated that despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, IGNITING, which was up in grade tonight, was not able to show enough early speed to lead as it did in Class 3. He said WE THE SOUTH was able to show more speed than IGNITING in the early stages and because of this he was required to race outside that horse. He said after shifting in to race outside WE THE SOUTH after the 1000 Metres, IGNITING travelled satisfactorily, however, did not quicken as it had in its previous runs when ridden by him, but rather stayed on in the early part of the Straight. He said it was only until the latter stages of the race that IGNITING weakened, however, in his opinion, the horse had performed satisfactorily tonight. He added IGNITING is a better horse when able to lead on the rail as the horse’s best performances have been when ridden in this manner and which provides the horse with the opportunity to show a good turn of foot when placed under pressure. A veterinary inspection of IGNITING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GOLD CHEST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. KURPANY and HANDSOME BO BO were sent for sampling.