09/06/2010  Happy Valley  Race 3

FORTUNE SPIRIT was withdrawn on 8.6.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetance) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter K-JACK (Apprentice M L Yeung). Before being allowed to race again, FORTUNE SPIRIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Shortly after the start, THINK BIG and POTENTIAL were taken across behind runners. When being steadied near the 1100 Metres, PROSPERITY KID got its head up on a number of occasions. For some distance approaching and passing the 800 Metres, PROSPERITY KID again proved difficult to settle and raced greenly. Near the 400 Metres, POTENTIAL was steadied away from the heels of FLOREAT DAYS. Approaching the 400 Metres, DAILY DOUBLE was checked after attempting to obtain a run between KINGSTON MARBLE and COUNTRY MAGIC where there was insufficient room. After this, DAILY DOUBLE was held up for clear running until near the 200 Metres. When questioned, H W Lai (KINGSTON MARBLE) stated that he had been instructed to cross to the fence in the lead and then hand up and let other runners improve to his outside so as to allow KINGSTON MARBLE to obtain a position behind the leader on the fence. He said he had been advised by Mr T K Ng, the trainer of KINGSTON MARBLE, that, in his opinion, the horse races best when able to obtain cover behind the lead. He said for this reason he rode KINGSTON MARBLE along in the early stages of the race to cross runners to his inside and after reaching the lead commenced to steady KINGSTON MARBLE to allow SOU MA TAM, which was racing to his outside, to cross. He said after being ridden along in the early stages, KINGSTON MARBLE proved somewhat difficult to settle passing the 900 Metres and it took some time for SOU MA TAM to cross KINGSTON MARBLE. He said in the Straight KINGSTON MARBLE was disappointing in its failure to then finish off the race. Mr Ng confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Lai to obtain cover on the horse if possible. He said although KINGSTON MARBLE has been successful when ridden in the lead, he is of the opinion that the horse races best when able to obtain cover behind the leader and advised Jockey Lai accordingly. H W Lai was advised that whilst the Stewards were mindful of his instructions, in the circumstances KINGSTON MARBLE’s interests would have been best served by allowing the horse to maintain its position on the inside of SOU MA TAM rather than allowing that horse to cross, particularly given that it was near the 600 Metres that SOU MA TAM was able to cross KINGSTON MARBLE. TYCOON TAYLOR, RAINBOW SEEKER and DAILY DOUBLE were sent for sampling.