06/10/2021  Happy Valley  Race 9

GREEN LUCK was withdrawn on 5.10.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BEAUTY FIT (M L Yeung). BEAUTY FIT began awkwardly. HELENE WISDOM STAR and SUNSHINE WARRIOR began only fairly and were then shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. From a wide barrier, SAVVY NINE was also steadied shortly after the start to obtain cover. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, RATTAN shifted in and bumped BEAUTY FIT. Making the turn near the 1000 Metres, SAVAQUIN got its head on the side and lay out. Passing the 800 Metres, RELIABLE TEAM was momentarily crowded for room between HIGHLAND FORTUNE and HELENE WISDOM STAR which shifted in. Approaching the 600 Metres, KILINDINI raced close to the heels of SOLAR WAI WAI. Near the 450 Metres, SUNSHINE WARRIOR was steadied away from the heels of HIGHLAND FORTUNE when attempting to improve to the inside of that horse where there was insufficient room. Passing the 300 Metres, KILINDINI and SOLAR WAI WAI bumped as KILINDINI commenced to shift to the outside of HELENE WISDOM STAR to obtain clear running. Then near the 250 Metres, KILINDINI shifted out away from the heels of HELENE WISDOM STAR and again bumped SOLAR WAI WAI. Throughout the race, HIGHLAND FORTUNE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, B Shinn stated that from the outside barrier he was asked to ride NOT USUAL TALENT quietly in the early stages and attempt to improve his position in the middle stages. He said the tempo of the race in the early stages was strong and despite him niggling NOT USUAL TALENT along approaching and passing the winning post on the first occasion the horse became detached from the remainder of the field. He said when the race continued to be run at a good tempo in the middle stages. NOT USUAL TALENT was off the bridle and was not able to improve. He said it was not until the 500 Metres that NOT USUAL TALENT commenced to respond to his riding and improve its position. He said after the 500 Metres the runners he was following were not travelling sufficiently well enough to be able to take NOT USUAL TALENT into the race, therefore he shifted his mount out rounding the Home Turn to position NOT USUAL TALENT to the outside of RELIABLE TEAM. He added that after obtaining clear running to the outside of runners in the early part of the Straight, NOT USUAL TALENT then finished off the race satisfactorily. When questioned, A Badel stated that he was instructed to be as forward as possible in the early stages on HELENE WISDOM STAR. He said he was told that if he was not able to obtain a forward position after the start, he should take the opportunity to shift HELENE WISDOM STAR out and improve his position at the earliest available opportunity as the horse is one-paced and is better suited when not held up for a final run. He said the tempo of the race in the early stages was strong and because of this HELENE WISDOM STAR was required to race back in the field. He said he felt that passing the 1000 Metres the tempo of the race slackened marginally and given his instructions he elected to shift HELENE WISDOM STAR out and commenced to improve his position passing the 900 Metres. He said when he did this RELIABLE TEAM, which he had been following, was also shifted out to improve its position which resulted in him having to make more use of HELENE WISDOM STAR than he had hoped to clear that horse. When questioned, K C Leung stated that it was felt that from a wide barrier RELIABLE TEAM would not be able to lead and therefore he should shift his mount across in the early stages and take up a forward position behind the leaders if possible. He said after being able to obtain a trailing position behind HIGHLAND FORTUNE after passing the winning post on the first occasion, RELIABLE TEAM continued to follow that horse after the 1200 Metres. He said the pace of the race in the early stages was strong, however, he was of the opinion that the pace of the race did commence to slacken near the 1200 Metres and when he became aware that HELENE WISDOM STAR was commencing to improve its position around RELIABLE TEAM, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of his mount to allow that horse to improve forward of RELIABLE TEAM as RELIABLE TEAM is one-paced which would not be suited by having to be quickened at a later stage of the race. He said when he was aware that HELENE WISDOM STAR was improving its position, he attempted to shift RELIABLE TEAM to the outside of HIGHLAND FORTUNE and commenced to improve his position, however, RELIABLE TEAM was not able to quicken as well as HELENE WISDOM STAR and after this was left racing wide and without cover in about a midfield position. A veterinary inspection of RELIABLE TEAM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TELECOM FIGHTERS and SUNSHINE WARRIOR were sent for sampling.