08/09/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

After mounting PASSING FASHION in the Parade Ring, H N Wong dismounted from that horse without incident as PASSING FASHION proved fractious. NORDIC WARRIOR was slow to begin. AURORA PEGASUS shifted out at the start and bumped RUN THE TABLE. AURORA PEGASUS and RUN THE TABLE were then badly crowded for room after travelling a short distance between FORTUNE CARRIER which shifted in after being bumped by STAY CHILL and RED MAJESTY which shifted out despite the efforts of its rider. In this incident, AURORA PEGASUS stumbled. FORTUNE CARRIER also became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by RUN THE TABLE. GOOD BEAUTY shifted out on jumping and bumped RED BRICK FIGHTER. After this, RED BRICK FIGHTER was steadied to obtain cover from a wide barrier. From the outside barrier, STRIVE FOR GLORY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 150 Metres, AURORA PEGASUS, which was laying in, was directed to the outside of the heels of PASSING FASHION to continue improving. Over the concluding stages, XPONENTIAL shifted out away from FORTUNE CARRIER as that horse shifted out marginally under pressure. When questioned, V Borges stated that he was instructed to ride STAY CHILL in about a midfield position if possible. He said making the first turn near the 1000 Metres he was racing in a position one horse off the rail behind XPONENTIAL albeit there was some gap between his mount and XPONENTIAL. He said after entering the Back Straight A SMILE LIKE YOURS was racing in a three wide position outside STAY CHILL. He said along the Back Straight A SMILE LIKE YOURS maintained a margin over STAY CHILL which was racing inside the heels of that horse. He said after the 700 Metres he believed that he would have had to ride STAY CHILL along to maintain his position inside A SMILE LIKE YOURS and having in mind that he was instructed to ride his mount in about a midfield position, he felt that it would be more advantageous for him not to have to ride his mount along at this stage to maintain its position inside A SMILE LIKE YOURS which resulted in that horse being able to shift in in front of STAY CHILL near the 550 Metres. V Borges was told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he would not have had to make unnecessary use of STAY CHILL to maintain its position inside A SMILE LIKE YOURS which would have resulted in that horse having to race wide and without cover throughout. He was further told to ensure that he rides his mounts in a competitive manner and to maintain his position wherever appropriate circumstances permit. A veterinary inspection of AURORA PEGASUS and RED BRICK FIGHTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FORTUNE CARRIER and XPONENTIAL were sent for sampling.