18/05/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

After being loaded into the barriers, SEE U AGAIN became fractious, reared and momentarily got its right front leg into the adjoining stall. When SEE U AGAIN became fractious, the horse’s bridle became detached. After taking some time to be removed from the barriers due to the bridle having to be refitted, SEE U AGAIN was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion the horse was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, SEE U AGAIN will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. FORTUNE PRESIDENT began only fairly. After being brushed by HAPPY SHARING on jumping, CASA KINGDOM shifted out and inconvenienced MASTER OF LUCK. From the outside barriers, HAPPY TRIO and STEEL WIN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. HAPPY SHARING lost its left front plate in the early stages. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, STEEL WIN was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HAPPY TRIO when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. Near the 1050 Metres, SEE U AGAIN was steadied when racing in restricted room inside HAPPY SHARING which got its head on the side and initially lay in away from CHARMING STEED which itself was hanging in. As SEE U AGAIN was being steadied by its rider, HAPPY SHARING was checked after being crowded for room inside CHARMING STEED which, despite the efforts of its rider, got its head on the side and continued to lay in before having to be steadied away from the heels of NEXTMODEL (H Bentley) near the 1000 Metres which shifted in when not properly clear. In this incident, HAPPY SHARING clipped the heels of CHARMING STEED and stumbled. As the Stewards were of the opinion that the racing manners of CHARMING STEED had played a significant part in this incident and had resulted in HAPPY SHARING being crowded for room prior to NEXTMODEL shifting in across CHARMING STEED, they elected to take no further action other than to reprimand H Bentley and advise him to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. When HAPPY SHARING was checked, SEE U AGAIN, which was following that horse, got its head up when being checked away from the heels of HAPPY SHARING. MASTER OF LUCK, which was following SEE U AGAIN and which was racing ungenerously, lost ground when checked away from the heels of SEE U AGAIN in consequence. After this, MASTER OF LUCK proved very difficult to settle for some distance and passing the 900 Metres got its head up when being checked away from the heels of HAPPY TRIO. SHINING FORTUNE lost its right hind plate at the 1000 Metres. Passing the 900 Metres, SHINING FORTUNE got its head on the side, lay in and bumped the running rail, resulting in SHINING FORTUNE becoming unbalanced. Also passing the 900 Metres, GOOD NEWS was bumped by MELBOURNE HALL which improved quickly to be racing inside the heels of HAPPY TRIO (L Hewitson) which shifted in before being directed out to relieve the tightening to both MELBOURNE HALL and GOOD NEWS. When HAPPY TRIO shifted out, MASTER OF LUCK was hampered in consequence. L Hewitson was told that whilst the Stewards accepted that MELBOURNE HALL had improved its position quickly and that he had taken corrective measures to relieve the tightening to MELBOURNE HALL as soon as he became aware that that horse had improved to his inside, nonetheless he must ensure that he exercises utmost care when shifting ground so that he does not cause unnecessary crowding to other runners. After this, HAPPY TRIO travelled wide and without cover. MASTER OF LUCK then continued to travel keenly and passing the 700 Metres was checked away from the heels of HAPPY TRIO. Passing the 200 Metres, CHARMING STEED got its head on the side and lay in under pressure. Approaching the 50 Metres, NEXTMODEL was awkwardly placed inside the heels of CHARMING STEED which lay in. When questioned, K C Leung stated that it was intended for GOOD NEWS, which was racing at Happy Valley for the first time tonight, to be ridden in a forward position and obtain a position behind the leaders. He said after GOOD NEWS was required to stand in the barriers for an extended period, the horse began only fairly and was out-paced in the early stages. He said he did consider riding his mount along to obtain a more forward position, however, he was mindful that GOOD NEWS had previously been inclined to run off the track in some of its races at Sha Tin and therefore he elected not to ride his mount along in the early stages to give it the best opportunity of handling the Happy Valley circuit at the first time of asking. He added that despite not riding his mount along after the start, GOOD NEWS shifted out making the first turn and at the 1000 Metres bumped MELBOURNE HALL. He said because of the manner in which the horse began and his reluctance to then ride his mount along in the early stages, GOOD NEWS raced much further back in the field tonight than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of GOOD NEWS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CASA KINGDOM immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, CASA KINGDOM will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SEE U AGAIN, CHARMING STEED and SHINING FORTUNE were sent for sampling.