28/09/2022  Happy Valley  Race 7

IGNITING began only fairly. SUPER EAGLE lost ground on jumping when crowded for room between WINE AND WINE and WINNING ICEY which was taken out by STORMTROUPER. In this incident, WINE AND WINE was bumped on the hindquarters by SUPER EAGLE. OUR LUCKY GLORY shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of ENCHANTING IBIS. Then from wide barriers, OUR LUCKY GLORY and ENCHANTING IBIS were shifted across behind runners. Also from the outside barrier, RED DESERT was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. After the 900 Metres, BEAUTY GLORY was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, IGNITING and ENCHANTING IBIS raced tight. At the 300 Metres, OUR LUCKY GLORY was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEAUTY GLORY when disappointed for running between that horse and IGNITING, both of which shifted ground. After this, OUR LUCKY GLORY was shifted to the inside of BEAUTY GLORY. Approaching and passing the 200 Metres, STORMTROUPER raced tight inside the heels of FLAMING PASSION. When questioned regarding his riding of SUPER EAGLE, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong tonight, L Currie stated that, from barrier 4, it was anticipated that SUPER EAGLE would have sufficient speed to cross the runners to its inside and race in the lead or in a trailing position behind the leaders. He said after being badly crowded for room on jumping SUPER EAGLE was required to race further back in the field than had been intended. He said after the 1100 Metres he commenced to improve his position inside the heels of STORMTROUPER, however, SUPER EAGLE shifted out, resulting in his mount being very awkwardly placed close to the heels of STORMTROUPER and losing ground. He said after the 900 Metres SUPER EAGLE commenced to travel keenly and he was able to improve his position inside STORMTROUPER. He said passing the 700 Metre SUPER EAGLE commenced to prove difficult to settle and he had to steady his mount away from the heels of FLAMING PASSION. He added that SUPER EAGLE then made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly and again shifted out towards the heels of STORMTROUPER, resulting in SUPER EAGLE no longer maintaining its position behind FLAMING PASSION. He said near the 450 Metres STORMTROUPER shifted in marginally and he was reluctant to ride SUPER EAGLE along to improve inside that horse given that SUPER EAGLE had made the turns awkwardly to that point of the race. He said he balanced SUPER EAGLE up rounding the Home Turn and immediately placed the horse under pressure at the entrance to the Straight. He said SUPER EAGLE was finishing the race off well until passing the 200 Metres at which time the horse improved to be racing behind WINE AND WINE which was giving ground and STORMTROUPER. He said this resulted in SUPER EAGLE not being able to obtain clear running and consequently not being able to be properly tested over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY GLORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BEAUTY GLORY, WINNING ICEY and STORMTROUPER were sent for sampling.