10/03/2010  Happy Valley  Race 3

MANY GAINS shifted out at the start, resulting in HIGH LUCK being crowded for room inside TELECOM SUPER STAR which itself was awkwardly placed inside MAGIC TURBO which was taken in slightly by BLADE FORCE. As a result of this, MANY GAINS became awkward and lost ground. Making the turn near the 1000 Metres, MAGIC TURBO was steadied away from the heels of HIGH LUCK. D Whyte (SOLAR UP) was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in at the 1000 Metres, resulting in WINFINDER being taken in, causing FORTUNE SPIRIT to be steadied away from the heels of that horse. In the early and middle stages, THE RIFLE proved difficult to settle. Passing the 800 Metres, MANY GAINS shifted out when being checked away from the heels of SUNSHINE BOY, resulting in HIGH LUCK being taken out and crowded for room inside TELECOM SUPER STAR. For some distance after this, HIGH LUCK proved difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TELECOM SUPER STAR. Then near the 500 Metres, HIGH LUCK was checked after improving of its own accord into tight running between MANY GAINS and TELECOM SUPER STAR which, after initially being taken out by FORTUNE SPIRIT which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINFINDER, then shifted back in slightly. In this incident, HIGH LUCK made contact with the hindquarters of TELECOM SUPER STAR which became unbalanced. No action was taken. When questioned, Trainer D J Hall (GALLOPY) stated that he had been disappointed with the manner in which the horse had finished off its most recent races when ridden in a forward position, for this reason he removed the blinkers from the horse tonight and instructed its rider, H W Lai, to ride it quietly in an endeavour to see if the horse would be able to finish off the race. He said however that when ridden in this manner, GALLOPY again disappointed him in its failure to close off the race. When questioned, M Chadwick (BLADE FORCE) stated that he had been instructed to take up a forward position in the early stages and either lead or if another horse was intent on leading, he should take the box seat. He said after obtaining a forward position in the early stages, he noticed SOLAR UP being ridden forward passing the 1000 Metres. He said he felt that to maintain his position inside that horse, he would have been required to ride BLADE FORCE along, therefore he allowed SOLAR UP to cross his mount near the 900 Metres. He said after being crossed by SOLAR UP, BLADE FORCE, which had the blinkers removed tonight, was reluctant to maintain its position behind SOLAR UP and because of this that horse was able to establish somewhat of a break on BLADE FORCE making the turn passing the 600 Metres. He said in the Straight BLADE FORCE finished off the race only fairly and, in his opinion, was disappointing tonight. A veterinary inspection of HIGH LUCK after the race did not show any significant findings. BLADE FORCE, SOLAR UP and FORTUNE SPIRIT were sent for sampling.