07/04/2010  Happy Valley  Race 4

At the start, RAISING SUN and CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE were crowded for room between SPEEDY and DARPANA which shifted out. From a wide barrier, PERFECT TEN was taken across behind runners to a position on the fence shortly after the start. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE was checked when crowded for room between ROYAL PORTRAIT (H W Lai) which, after initially being taken in by BEAUTIFUL CHOICE (O Doleuze), then shifted in away from that horse. Both H W Lai and O Doleuze were advised to ensure that they make every effort to give their fellow riders sufficient racing room in future. Passing the 1300 Metres, CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE shifted out and bumped ROYAL PORTRAIT when awkwardly placed close to the heels of DARPANA. Passing the 1000 Metres, PERFECT TEN was steadied away from the heels of CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE. Approaching the 800 Metres, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE proved very difficult to settle and shifted out away from the heels of SPEEDY after being checked away from the heels of that horse. Near the 600 Metres, DARPANA was checked after attempting to improve between RAISING SUN and SPEEDY where there was insufficient room. Rounding the Home Turn, CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE was checked severely away from the heels of SHINING SPUR which, when giving ground, raced tight between MAGIC TURBO and SPEEDY which at this time was taken out slightly by RAISING SUN which shifted away from the fence to improve. Throughout the race, MAGIC TURBO travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of ROCKET AND GOLD rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight, Y T Cheng stated that after following the eventual winner, LEO’S PRIDE, he elected to shift to the outside of that horse to improve his position passing the 500 Metres. He said as he did this, he observed CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE, which was racing in advance of ROCKET AND GOLD, being severely checked, therefore he hesitated in his riding of ROCKET AND GOLD in order to establish whether it would be better to shift to either the inside or the outside of that horse when it gave ground. He said as CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE shifted out when being checked, he elected to shift to the inside of that horse and on straightening immediately recommenced riding ROCKET AND GOLD. He said passing the 200 Metres when making ground, ROCKET AND GOLD raced tight inside CONNOISSEUR’S LOVE which shifted in and because of this he was hampered in his endeavour to ride the horse out at this stage. Y T Cheng was advised that his explanation would be recorded, however, in the opinion of the Stewards, his riding rounding the Home Turn lacked decisiveness and that in future he would be expected to be more assertive in similar circumstances. veterinary inspection of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE after the race did not show any significant findings. LEO’S PRIDE and WIN A DOZEN were sent for sampling.