30/10/2022  Happy Valley  Race 3

CHATER PINS, which made contact with a rail on entering the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the Start and passed suitable to race. BRIGHT KID was slow to begin. As the start was effected, ALL IS READY lifted its front feet off the ground and then lost ground after being bumped by MANAGEMENT FOLKS which shifted out. CIRCUIT ELITE began awkwardly. From the outside barriers, SMILING TIME and CHATER PINS were steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, VINCY got its head on the side and lay in away from KUNGFUMASTER PANDA, resulting in VINCY being awkwardly placed outside the heels of KOWLOON GREAT. ALL IS READY, which was following VINCY, was awkwardly placed behind that horse when racing tight inside WONDER YEARS which shifted in before being directed back out to relieve the crowding. Approaching the 1200 Metres, WONDER YEARS was left racing wide and without cover. After the 700 Metres, PERFECT MARYKNOLL, which was under heavy pressure, was taken wider by SUPER HONG KONG which shifted out from behind CIRCUIT ELITE. VINCY was awkwardly placed behind KUNGFUMASTER PANDA passing the 500 Metres. After the 400 Metres, MANAGEMENT FOLKS was awkwardly placed behind PERFECT MARYKNOLL as that horse commenced to give ground. Approaching the 150 Metres, KOWLOON GREAT raced tight inside BRIGHT KID. Also approaching the 150 Metres, VINCY shifted out abruptly, resulting in its rider having to stop riding and straighten. When questioned, Z Purton stated that whilst KUNGFUMASTER PANDA did not finish the race off over the concluding stages, he was of the opinion that there were reasons which accounted for the horse not being able to close off. He said KUNGFUMASTER PANDA travelled keenly in the middle stages and was awkwardly placed behind MANAGEMENT FOLKS for some distance in the middle stages. He said he attempted to commence to make a move forward on KUNGFUMASTER PANDA near the 500 Metres, however, was not able to improve at this time when racing inside WONDER YEARS and behind MANAGEMENT FOLKS which both came under pressure to hold their positions. He said due to being held up for running at a crucial stage of the race, KUNGFUMASTER PANDA lost momentum and although the horse was able to obtain clear running at the 300 Metres, it was not able to quicken in the Straight to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of KUNGFUMASTER PANDA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, A Badel stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on CIRCUIT ELITE, however, if other runners were keen to lead the race, then it was acceptable for him to obtain a trailing position. He said it was also explained to him that CIRCUIT ELITE is one-paced and therefore he should have this in mind when riding the horse. He said after riding CIRCUIT ELITE positively in the early stages, he was able to obtain the lead passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said CIRCUIT ELITE travelled strongly after the 1200 Metres and although the horse was running at a faster tempo than he would have preferred, he was reluctant to steady his mount too strongly as he did not want CIRCUIT ELITE to be left flat-footed when the tempo of the race increased. He said he therefore attempted to have CIRCUIT ELITE balanced and racing comfortably in the middle stages. He added that when pressed by SUPER HONG KONG after the 700 Metres, CIRCUIT ELITE did not quicken and after staying on satisfactorily rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight then gave ground over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT ELITE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on KOWLOON GREAT at the request of Trainer C S Shum. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, KOWLOON GREAT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ALL IS READY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. KOWLOON GREAT, SMILING TIME and BRIGHT KID were sent for sampling.