26/05/2021  Happy Valley  Race 2

After being loaded into the barriers, LUCKY MARYKNOLL became fractious, reared abruptly and got its left front leg over the front barrier gates, resulting in the gates being forced open. LUCKY MARYKNOLL was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse had sustained lacerations to the left front leg and accordingly was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, LUCKY MARYKNOLL was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY MARYKNOLL will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY VICTOR shifted out at the start and bumped SHANGHAI POWER. SUNNY SMILE began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of VEGA RHYTHM. When being steadied to obtain cover from a wide barrier, AFRICAN SKY shifted out and bumped SMART HUNTER which in turn shifted out and bumped DESTINE JEWELLERY. Then from wide barriers, AFRICAN SKY and SMART HUNTER were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. When also being steadied to obtain cover in the early stages, VEGA RHYTHM shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of SHANGHAI POWER, causing both horses to become unbalanced. After being steadied in the early stages from the outside barrier with a view to obtaining a position closer to the rail, DESTINE JEWELLERY was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race. After travelling a short distance, KA FORTUNE was crowded for room between YEE CHEONG LUCKY which shifted out and JOY AVENUE which, after initially shifting in, then shifted in further after being bumped on the hindquarters by KA FORTUNE. This resulted in JOY AVENUE being directed out away from KA FORTUNE to relieve the tightening to that horse. Near the 250 Metres, M F Poon (JOY AVENUE) dropped his left rein which he was able to regather passing the 200 Metres. Approaching the 100 Metres, KA FORTUNE shifted out under pressure. Throughout the race, SUNNY SMILE got its head on the side and lay out. When questioned, M F Poon stated that JOY AVENUE did not travel as strongly in tonight’s race as it had when he had ridden it previously. He said he had to ride his mount along in the early stages to maintain its position and in the middle stages it travelled only fairly. He said after being placed under pressure in the Straight JOY AVENUE did not close off the race. He added when pulling up JOY AVENUE coughed. A veterinary inspection of JOY AVENUE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DESTINE JEWELLERY, KA FORTUNE and SUNNY SMILE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GREAT HARVEST and SHANGHAI POWER were sent for sampling.