09/03/2022  Happy Valley  Race 7

CHARIZARD began only fairly and then was bumped by E LEGEND which shifted in. From wide barriers, YEE CHEONG WARRIOR and LAPUTA were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1600 Metres, SPARKY STAR was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHARIZARD when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, HK DRAGON was steadied to obtain cover after racing wide. In the early stages, JOLLY HONOUR travelled wide and without cover and after the 1200 Metres was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead near the 900 Metres. When improving its position, JOLLY HONOUR and E LEGEND bumped approaching the 1000 Metres. Passing the 600 Metres, CHARIZARD and LAPUTA bumped as CHARIZARD improved to the outside of E LEGEND. Rounding the Home Turn, HERCULES was steadied away from the heels of JOLLY HONOUR when held up for clear running behind that horse. HERCULES was then shifted to the inside of JOLLY HONOUR passing the 300 Metres to obtain clear running. Passing the 100 Metres, M L Yeung (HANG’S CHOICE) dropped his right rein. When questioned, H Bentley stated that after the 600 Metres NIMBLE NIMBUS, which was racing at Happy Valley for the first time tonight, was travelling well and near the 500 Metres he became aware that HK DRAGON was commencing to improve quickly around his mount and JOLLY HONOUR to obtain the lead. He said he asked his mount to improve with HK DRAGON but that horse had more momentum than NIMBLE NIMBUS and his mount did not quicken sufficiently to be able to prevent HK DRAGON from improving around NIMBLE NIMBUS. He said NIMBLE NIMBUS is a horse that has previously been shown not to possess an immediate turn of foot and with the momentum that HK DRAGON had, that horse was able to improve in advance of NIMBLE NIMBUS prior to the 400 Metres. He said as HK DRAGON had made an early move in the race, he had hoped that that horse may weaken on its run over the concluding stages, therefore he immediately switched to the outside of that horse at the entrance to the Straight. He added NIMBLE NIMBUS finished the race off in the Home Straight well albeit one-paced and he was not able to take ground off HK DRAGON over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of CHARIZARD and JUDY’S STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HK DRAGON and SPARKY STAR were sent for sampling.