18/05/2022  Happy Valley  Race 8

On jumping, VIVA HUNTER, which was fractious in the barriers, stumbled badly, resulting in its rider, K C Leung, becoming unbalanced and VIVA HUNTER losing ground. In this incident, VIVA HUNTER lost its left front plate. INVINCIBLE MISSILE was slow to begin. When being steadied shortly after the start from a wide barrier to obtain cover, PACKING AWARD got its head up and became unbalanced. From the outside barrier, VILLA FIONN began awkwardly and was then shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. PACKING FAMOUS was also steadied in the early stages to obtain a position closer to the rail. For some distance approaching the winning post on the first occasion, PACKING AWARD got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied to obtain cover behind INVINCIBLE MISSILE. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, VIVA HUNTER commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AMAZING ONE PLUS. RECIPROCATION got its head on the side and lay out after the 1300 Metres. Near the 1200 Metres, PACKING FAMOUS was left racing wide and without cover. At the entrance to the Straight, RECIPROCATION and PACKING FAMOUS bumped, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Approaching the 50 Metres, NOTHING NEW and CALIFORNIA SKY bumped. NOTHING NEW then raced tight between CALIFORNIA SKY and RED MAJESTY over the concluding stages. After the race, K Teetan stated that when shifting his mount across from a wide barrier to obtain cover, PACKING AWARD commenced to travel keenly and then did not travel as comfortably as it had for him in the past. He said after the 600 Metres horses in advance of PACKING AWARD did not take him into the race as he had hoped and that after shifting his mount to the outside of PACKING FAMOUS passing the 400 Metres, PACKING AWARD made the Home Turn awkwardly and then in the Straight did not finish the race off as well as expected. He said whilst the circumstances of tonight’s race may not have been to PACKING AWARD’s advantage, nonetheless he was of the opinion that the horse was somewhat disappointing in that when placed under pressure PACKING AWARD did not quicken and, in his opinion, finished the race off only fairly. A veterinary inspection of PACKING AWARD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of VIVA HUNTER and PACKING FAMOUS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NOTHING NEW, LOYAL BABY and RED MAJESTY were sent for sampling.