23/12/2009  Happy Valley  Race 4

SPICY SHRIMP, which was fractious in the barriers, and BIG KAHUNA were slow to begin. Rounding the turn near the 1000 Metres, SUPER GENERAL raced tight inside JUST CHILL. Passing the 600 Metres and again rounding the Home Turn, SUPER GENERAL got its head up on a number of occasions when being checked away from the heels of JUST CHILL. Near the 500 Metres, MIGHTY CHAMPION got its head on the side and ran out, resulting in SHOWTIME, which was racing to that horse’s outside, being taken extremely wide and having to be severely checked. As a result of this, both MIGHTY CHAMPION and SHOWTIME lost a considerable amount of ground. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY CHAMPION after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of MIGHTY CHAMPION was considered unacceptable. Before being permitted to race again, MIGHTY CHAMPION will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend. Near the 200 Metres, GOOD FORTUNE and SPICY SHRIMP made heavy contact due to both horses shifting ground. In the Straight, THE UNTOUCHABLELAD hung in and proved difficult to ride. Then, close to the finishing line, THE UNTOUCHABLELAD, which continued to hang in, was severely checked away from the heels of JUST CHILL. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of DANABAA, Apprentice T H So, who was having his first ride on the horse tonight, stated that he had to make some use of it to cross runners on his inside in the early stages, however, despite this, DANABAA was disappointing in that it did not respond to his riding and weakened under pressure in the Straight. Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of DANABAA, concurred with Apprentice So’s explanation that too much use of the horse was required to be made in the early stages to cross to the lead and for this reason, in his opinion, the horse was not able to finish off tonight’s race. A veterinary inspection of DANABAA after the race did not show any significant findings other than the horse had lost its right front plate. PERFECT GEAR and JUST CHILL were sent for sampling.