18/04/2012  Happy Valley  Race 2

JADE PINS was slow to begin. Passing the 1700 Metres, CHANTILLY was steadied after racing in restricted room between JADE PINS and ABLE DRAGON which shifted in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of O’REILLY MAGIC. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, FANTASTISCH got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied to allow FELAROF to cross. Approaching the 800 Metres, KING GALILEO was shifted out and was ridden along to obtain a more forward position. MASTER DREAMER got its head on the side and hung in in the Straight. FELAROF lay in under pressure in the Straight and over the concluding stages shifted in towards the heels of O’REILLY MAGIC. When questioned regarding the improved performance of O’REILLY MAGIC, Trainer C W Chang stated that he had given the horse a strong chance in the most recent start when the horse raced disappointingly. He said after that race he altered the work programme of O’REILLY MAGIC in an attempt to keep the horse fresh for tonight’s race. He said that he selected tonight’s race as it was over the distance of 1800 Metres and O’REILLY MAGIC had performed well in Class 4 three starts ago over this distance. He added that O’REILLY MAGIC has ongoing soundness issues and he felt that it may have benefited from not being worked as much in the lead up to tonight’s race. He said irrespective of this, given O’REILLY MAGIC’s disappointing last start, he did not expect the horse to be a winning chance in tonight’s race. After the race, M Du Plessis reported that MR SPEEDY was inclined to hang out throughout the race. A veterinary inspection of CHANTILLY after the race did not show any significant findings. MR SPEEDY, O’REILLY MAGIC and JADE PINS were sent for sampling.