24/03/2021  Happy Valley  Race 4

GOUTEN OF GARO was crowded for room on jumping between CANTSTOPTHEFEELING and SHOWINA which shifted out. FOURAWARRIOR began only fairly and then shifted out towards the heels of JOYFUL WIN. After this, FOURAWARRIOR was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. MY MY MY began awkwardly. Shortly after the start, BOOMING WELL got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of SHOWINA. After the 700 Metres, GOUTEN OF GARO was eased when racing tight between SHOWINA and VICTORY IN HAND which got its head on the side and lay in away from JOYFUL WIN. Also after the 700 Metres, HARMONY FIRE commenced to travel keenly when improving into tight running between VICTORY IN HAND and JOYFUL WIN which at this time shifted in away from VERY SWEET ORANGE. After racing tight between VICTORY IN HAND and JOYFUL WIN for some distance, HARMONY FIRE was checked approaching the 600 Metres as a result of JOYFUL WIN continuing to shift in away from VERY SWEET ORANGE and VICTORY IN HAND which had been laying in and then shifted out abruptly rounding the turn. This resulted in HARMONY FIRE losing ground when being checked and after initially shifting in, causing crowding to GOUTEN OF GARO and SHOWINA then shifting out and bumping CANTSTOPTHEFEELING. As the Stewards were of the opinion that this incident emanated firstly from the racing manners of HARMONY FIRE improving into restricted running when travelling keenly and then JOYFUL WIN laying in before VICTORY IN HAND shifted out abruptly, they were satisfied that there was no rider error associated with this incident and accordingly no further action was taken. After the 600 Metres, FOURAWARRIOR was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 300 Metres, VICTORY IN HAND momentarily raced tight between JOYFUL WIN and VERY SWEET ORANGE which was then shifted in to relieve the tightening to VICTORY IN HAND. Passing the 200 Metres, OVERSUBSCRIBED was shifted in away from the heels of VERY SWEET ORANGE which lay in when commencing to give ground. A charge of careless riding was issued against Apprentice C L Chau (VICTORY IN HAND), the particulars of the charge being that near the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of MY MY MY, causing that horse to be severely checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled and contributing to interference to OVERSUBSCRIBED and SHOWINA which were racing on the inside of MY MY MY. The Stewards acceded to a request submitted by Apprentice Chau for the inquiry to be adjourned so that he may be assisted in this matter by his allocated trainer, Mr D J Whyte. Accordingly, the inquiry was adjourned prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Sunday, 28 March 2021. Close to the finishing line, VICTORY IN HAND was directed out to relieve the tightening to OVERSUBSCRIBED which continued to race tight inside that horse and in doing so bumped the hindquarters of JOYFUL WIN which became unbalanced. Because of this incident, OVERSUBSCRIBED was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. A veterinary inspection of CANTSTOPTHEFEELING, MY MY MY and SHOWINA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JOYFUL WIN and VICTORY IN HAND were sent for sampling.