18/04/2010  Happy Valley  Race 4

BINGO KEY was withdrawn on 17.4.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ISTIDE (D Beadman). Before being allowed to race again, BINGO KEY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RECORD HIGH proved very fractious in the barriers and reared up on a number of occasions. RECORD HIGH then began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped MARBLE RED. Before being allowed to race again, RECORD HIGH will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. For some distance after the start, ISTIDE was ridden along aggressively to obtain a forward position, however, failed to muster speed and consequently raced further back in the field than usual. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, GALLANT GALLOP was awkwardly placed between ISTIDE and RECORD HIGH which shifted in slightly. In the early stages, CLOSERTOBELIEVING was left racing wide and without cover and passing the 1200 Metres was allowed to stride forward into the lead. Near the 700 Metres, PRECISION MAGIC was steadied away from the heels of GALLANT GALLOP. Passing the 600 Metres, OTTIMO was shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of MARBLE RED and in doing so made contact with HOME WITH GLORY, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. RECORD HIGH, which was following OTTIMO, was steadied and shifted out in consequence. Approaching the 200 Metres, CLOSERTOBELIEVING and MEGA BULLET raced tight inside MARBLE RED which shifted in slightly when weakening. Over the concluding stages, MARBLE RED raced tight between MEGA BULLET and HARRY HARRY (Apprentice K C Leung) which shifted in. Then after passing the winning post, MARBLE RED was checked when crowded for room as a result of HARRY HARRY shifting in. Apprentice Leung was severely reprimanded and advised that whilst the worst of the interference occurred after passing the winning post, he would be expected to make more of an endeavour than he did on this occasion to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. Throughout the race, HOME WITH GLORY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Mr C H Yip, the trainer of OTTIMO, advised that at its most recent start when attempting 1650 Metres for the first time, he instructed Y T Cheng, the rider of OTTIMO, to cross behind runners in the early stages and obtain a position closer to the rail. He said these instructions were due to the horse’s wide barrier and the anticipated fast tempo in that race. He said today from the same barrier, he advised Y T Cheng that if the horse began well, he should attempt to obtain a position behind the leaders as he felt that there was a lack of pace in the race and that OTTIMO would be able to obtain a more forward position. A veterinary inspection of MARBLE RED and ISTIDE after the race did not show any significant findings. RECORD HIGH, OTTIMO and VIVA GUY were sent for sampling.