26/04/2017  Happy Valley  Race 4

MASTER VIKING (Apprentice K K Chiong) began awkwardly and lost ground. This resulted in MASTER VIKING racing back in the field. Apprentice Chiong reported that it had been intended for MASTER VIKING to be ridden in a forward position. From wide barriers, TORNEY and BORN TO RACE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. GODSPEED was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Near the 950 Metres, BORN TO RACE was taken wider by DON’T MISS which shifted out. Passing the 900 Metres, VICTOR EMPEROR commenced to travel keenly and shifted in abruptly when awkwardly placed close to the heels of STARTLING POWER which was steadied away from the heels of LYRIC ACE which got its head on the side and shifted out. Passing the 800 Metres, MASTER VIKING was momentarily crowded for room inside CAREFREE LET GO which got its head on the side and shifted in after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of VICTOR EMPEROR. CAREFREE LET GO was then promptly shifted out to relieve the tightening to MASTER VIKING. Passing the 600 Metres, TORNEY raced tight inside GODSPEED which improved into tight running inside DON’T MISS. When questioned, T H So stated that he had been asked to ride DON’T MISS in about a midfield position or slightly behind midfield. He said DON’T MISS began only fairly and he rode his mount along in the early stages, however, shortly after the start was racing outside CAREFREE LET GO, he therefore steadied DON’T MISS after the 1100 Metres to obtain a trailing position behind that horse. He said when being shifted in to race behind CAREFREE LET GO, DON’T MISS was awkwardly placed behind that horse after the 1000 Metres and then shifted out abruptly away from the heels of CAREFREE LET GO near the 950 Metres. He said he then shifted DON’T MISS back in to race behind CAREFREE LET GO and had hoped to remain racing in this position, however, DON’T MISS commenced to travel greenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CAREFREE LET GO near the 850 Metres. He said when this happened DON’T MISS got its head on the side and shifted out away from the heels of CAREFREE LET GO. He said he then attempted for some distance after this to shift DON’T MISS back in, however, the horse was reluctant to resume its position behind CAREFREE LET GO and this allowed GODSPEED the opportunity to improve underneath DON'T MISS which resulted in that horse being left racing three wide. He said for a considerable distance after the 600 Metres he rode DON’T MISS aggressively as the horse was racing greenly and he did not want to be taken wider by GODSPEED. He said when being hard ridden, DON’T MISS continued to lay out and then made the Home Turn awkwardly. He said in the early part of the Straight, when placed under pressure, DON’T MISS lay out and for this reason he changed his whip over into his left hand after the 150 Metres. He said DON'T MISS then finished off the race satisfactorily, however, the horse raced very greenly throughout the race. A veterinary inspection of DON’T MISS immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, DON’T MISS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of VICTOR EMPEROR and BORN TO RACE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. YOUNG EMPIRE and SMART SALUTE were sent for sampling. <27/4/2017 Additional Veterinary Report>VICTOR EMPEROR, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said at that time there were no significant findings. VICTOR EMPEROR was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer C H Yip this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg with a stiff and restricted action. Before being allowed to race again, VICTOR EMPEROR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.