16/09/2009  Happy Valley  Race 1

MASTER MASTER bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. SUPER IDEAL was slow to begin. RISING WIN began awkwardly. In the early and middle stages, TRAVEL LEADER proved difficult to settle. For some distance approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, LAZY BUDDIES raced tight inside OSCAR PRINCE which in turn raced tight inside RISING WIN. Throughout the race, NATURAL ECHO travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding AIPODER IMAGE racing forward in the field tonight, Trainer L Ho stated that it was decided that, due to the anticipated lack of pace in the race, AIPODER IMAGE would be best served by being ridden in about the 4th or 5th position rather than at the rear which had been the case last season when the horse had drawn wide. He said it was felt that if AIPODER IMAGE were to race back in the field in what eventuated to be a slowly run race, the horse would have difficulty in making up ground. He said it was not the decision to lead tonight’s race, however, the jockey made the decision to press forward and lead in the early stages when it appeared as though AIPODER IMAGE may be caught wide. A veterinary inspection of ZERO GRAVITY after the race did not show any significant findings. AIPODER IMAGE and MASTER MASTER were sent for sampling.