09/11/2022  Happy Valley  Race 3

HK DRAGON was withdrawn on 8.11.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LUCKY MISSILE (L Hewitson). Before being allowed to race again, HK DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. VIVA POPCORN shifted out at the start and bumped ROYAL PRIDE. AMAZING BOY began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped PACKING MONKEYKING which became unbalanced. BORN THE SAME DAY was crowded for room on jumping between LEGION OF MERIT and MIGHTY VALOR which shifted in. After this, LEGION OF MERIT and BORN THE SAME DAY were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Also from wide barriers, SMOOTHIES and ALL JOYFUL were steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, EVER LAUGH (R Maia) improved to be racing inside the heels of ROYAL PRIDE as that horse was shifting across to race outside BLISSFUL STAR. This resulted in VIVA POPCORN (Apprentice Y L Chung) racing in restricted room after the winning post on the first occasion. As R Maia then attempted to steady EVER LAUGH from inside the heels of ROYAL PRIDE to prevent causing further crowding to VIVA POPCORN, EVER LAUGH commenced to travel very keenly which resulted in the horse continuing to race to the inside of the heels of ROYAL PRIDE and causing VIVA POPCORN to become unbalanced when crowded for room approaching the 1300 Metres. When VIVA POPCORN was crowded, Apprentice Chung became badly unbalanced. EVER LAUGH was then shifted out from inside the heels of ROYAL PRIDE passing the 1300 Metres to relieve the crowding to VIVA POPCORN. R Maia was told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in allowing EVER LAUGH to improve to the inside of ROYAL PRIDE passing the winning post on the first occasion when it was most probable that that horse was going to continue to race outside BLISSFUL STAR which was shifting across to race on the rail. R Maia was further told that after this, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had made a reasonable endeavour to shift EVER LAUGH back out behind ROYAL PRIDE prior to causing crowding to VIVA POPCORN and therefore he was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he exercises more care than he did on this occasion to prevent causing interference. After the 1300 Metres, LUCKY MISSILE and AMAZING BOY raced tight. After this, LUCKY MISSILE was left racing wide and without cover. After entering the Back Straight, LEGION OF MERIT was shifted out and allowed to improve its position into the lead near the 550 Metres. After shifting across to race in the lead, MIGHTY VALOR was shifted out away from the heels of that horse and in doing so bumped AMAZING BOY. BLISSFUL STAR, which was following MIGHTY VALOR, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. At the entrance to the Straight, VIVA POPCORN and MIGHTY VALOR brushed. VIVA POPCORN was then awkwardly placed behind LEGION OF MERIT when disappointed for running between that horse and MIGHTY VALOR. VIVA POPCORN was then shifted to the inside of LEGION OF MERIT passing the 300 Metres. Approaching the 200 Metres, BORN THE SAME DAY had some difficulty obtaining clear running when attempting to improve to the outside of VIVA POPCORN. BORN THE SAME DAY was then shifted to the inside of VIVA POPCORN approaching the 50 Metres after that horse shifted out under pressure. After the race, M Chadwick reported that after the 900 Metres when the pace of the race slackened, ALL JOYFUL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BORN THE SAME DAY at which time his saddle shifted forward, placing him at a disadvantage for the remainder of the race. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING BOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BLISSFUL STAR, ROYAL PRIDE and LEGION OF MERIT were sent for sampling.