28/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 5

CHIU CHOW BROTHER was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood abnormality). Before being allowed to race again, CHIU CHOW BROTHER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PERFECT TO GREAT, which made contact with a rail on entering the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. After being loaded into the barriers, BILLIONAIRE SECRET became fractious, reared and momentarily rested both front feet on the front gates. BILLIONAIRE SECRET was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, BILLIONAIRE SECRET will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. PERFECT TO GREAT began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of STARFIRE GEMS, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. From the outside barrier, BELL OF HAPPINESS was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. FORTUNE PRESIDENT was inconvenienced a short distance after the start by SUNNY DELIGHT which shifted in. A short distance after the start, GALLANT HERO was very awkwardly placed outside the hindquarters of BILLIONAIRE SECRET when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. After the 1400 Metres, WINWIN THIRTYTHREE commenced to travel keenly and raced close to the heels of BILLIONAIRE SECRET. Then near the 1300 Metres, WINWIN THIRTYTHREE shifted out away from behind BILLIONAIRE SECRET. SUNNY DELIGHT, which was following WINWIN THIRTYTHREE, was steadied away from the heels of that horse as WINWIN THIRTYTHREE resumed its position behind BILLIONAIRE SECRET. Passing the 1200 Metres, SUNNY DELIGHT was again steadied away from the heels of WINWIN THIRTYTHREE. After this, SUNNY DELIGHT remained awkwardly placed behind WINWIN THIRTYTHREE when travelling keenly and when the tempo was only fair in the middle stages, SUNNY DELIGHT was shifted out away from behind WINWIN THIRTYTHREE near the 1000 Metres and allowed to improve its position into the lead near the 700 Metres. After the 1200 Metres, BELL OF HAPPINESS became unbalanced of its own accord. Approaching the 900 Metres, FORTUNE PRESIDENT commenced to race ungenerously and got its head up when awkwardly placed outside the heels of GALLANT HERO. Approaching the 600 Metres, BILLIONAIRE SECRET was bumped and taken wider by EQUILIBRIUM TURBO which improved into tight running between BILLIONAIRE SECRET and STARFIRE GEMS. BILLIONAIRE SECRET then made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly. Approaching the 100 Metres, FORTUNE PRESIDENT lay out under pressure. SUNNY DELIGHT also lay out under pressure over the concluding stages. After the race, M F Poon reported that GALLANT HERO lay in and proved very awkward to ride in tonight’s race, particularly around the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. A veterinary inspection of BELL OF HAPPINESS and SMILING MOON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PERFECT TO GREAT and STAR CONTACT were sent for sampling.