20/02/2008  Happy Valley  Race 2

SPICY HOT began awkwardly and lost ground. MACAROON, which was standing badly, began awkwardly, bumped the outside gate of its stall and lost ground. SHOW BRAVELY bounded in the air at the start. Shortly after the start, FISHKING EXCELLENT was crowded for room between SHOW BRAVELY and RED FORTUNE, both of which shifted ground. After the 1200 Metres, WATCHMAN was steadied away from the heels of RED FORTUNE. PACIFIC ALLIANCE, which was following, was steadied and shifted out away from the heels of WATCHMAN. After this, PACIFIC ALLIANCE travelled wide and without cover and approaching the 700 Metres was ridden along to go forward. Making the turn at the 1000 Metres, CHALLENGER got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of CENAMIRA. Near the 700 Metres, HONG KONG GEM was steadied away from the heels of SPICY HOT. Approaching the Home Turn, CHALLENGER was carried back through the field by CENAMIRA which failed to quicken with the tempo of the race. In the Straight, SHOW BRAVELY hung in and after the 50 Metres shifted ground and bumped PACIFIC ALLIANCE. Y T Cheng (CENAMIRA) said the horse's form had been disappointing of recent times when being ridden in a rearward position. He said he was therefore instructed from a wide barrier to endeavour to have CENAMIRA race in a forward position. He said in accordance with those instructions he rode CENAMIRA along in the early stages and crossed towards the lead approaching the winning post on the first occasion. He said he made considerable use of CENAMIRA in the early stages and after passing the winning post on the first occasion he received a call from the rider of NEW COMMAND which had been racing to his inside and was being ridden to hold the rail in the lead. He said because of the amount of work CENAMIRA had done, he elected to steady his mount and take a trailing position behind NEW COMMAND. MACAROON was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of MACAROON after the race did not show any significant findings. FISHKING EXCELLENT and PACIFIC ALLIANCE were sent for sampling.