10/11/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

As the start was effected, LEAP OF FAITH lifted its front feet off the ground and began awkwardly, resulting in the horse bumping the outside of its gate and losing ground. Shortly after the start, when being steadied to obtain cover, DYNAMIC EAGLE was steadied away from the heels of TIANCHI MONSTER which shifted out after becoming unbalanced as a result of being bumped by HELENE ALLIBOR which shifted out. SMART PATCH and XIANG BAI QI were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1400 Metres, SMART PATCH commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of TIANCHI MONSTER. TIANCHI MONSTER was unable to obtain clear running over the final 200 Metres. Because of this, TIANCHI MONSTER was not able to be fully tested until the concluding stages. Close to the finishing line, DYNAMIC EAGLE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SAVVY KINGMAN. When question, C Y Ho (MEANINGFUL STAR) stated that from barrier 8 in a relatively small field, he was asked to obtain a position in about midfield or behind midfield. He said after beginning very well, he did not ride MEANINGFUL STAR along in the early stages in the hope that the horse would be able to obtain about a midfield position. He said due to the make-up of the field in the early stages, he believed that he was going to be left racing wide and without cover as horses, which were better drawn than MEANINGFUL STAR, had been able to obtain their positions shortly after the start. He said passing the 1600 Metres he anticipated that HELENE ALLIBOR was being steadied with a view to taking a trailing position on the rail behind WORLD FAMOUS and therefore when racing without cover, he rode his mount along in an attempt to clear TIANCHI MONSTER and race outside HELENE ALLIBOR. He said however that approaching the winning post on the first occasion HELENE ALLIBOR maintained its position one horse off the rail which allowed LEAP OF FAITH the opportunity to improve inside that horse and this resulted in MEANINGFUL STAR having to remain racing in a three wide position. He added passing the winning post on the first occasion he attempted to shift in from behind HELENE ALLIBOR and in advance of TIANCHI MONSTER, however, that horse was allowed to improve its position to be racing directly behind HELENE ALLIBOR and this resulted in him not being able to obtain cover behind HELENE ALLIBOR and having to race three wide and without cover. He said he felt that the pace of the race after the 1200 Metres was genuine enough and did not provide him with the opportunity to improve in an attempt to obtain a position closer to the rail. He said passing the 900 Metres he was hopeful that the pace of the race would slacken and therefore he allowed his mount to improve its position, however, after improving to race outside WORLD FAMOUS, that horse and SAVVY KINGMAN, which were leading, maintained their positions to the inside of MEANINGFUL STAR which resulted in MEANINGFUL STAR continuing to race wide and without cover for the remainder of the race and then in the Straight not being able to finish off the race. Mr K W Lui, trainer of MEANINGFUL STAR, stated that at its most recent starts the horse was able to obtain a forward position due to the inside barriers. He said from barrier 8 in tonight’s field, he felt that MEANINGFUL STAR would not be able to obtain a position behind the leaders without having to be ridden along to do so in the early stages and therefore due to the horse’s wide barrier and the make-up of the field tonight, he instructed Jockey Ho to obtain a position with cover which he anticipated would be in about midfield or possibly behind midfield. He added because of the manner in which MEANINGFUL STAR began tonight and the circumstances of the race in the early and middle stages, he was satisfied with Jockey Ho’s riding of MEANINGFUL STAR albeit that the horse was not able to obtain cover at any stage of the race. C Y Ho was told that his explanation would be reported. A veterinary inspection of MEANINGFUL STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SAVVY KINGMAN and LEAP OF FAITH were sent for sampling.