14/07/2010  Happy Valley  Race 8

GOOD STRIKE knuckled over at the start. TAI SING YEH shifted in at the start and was steadied away from the heels of HONGKONG SUPERSTAR. Near the 500 Metres, GOOD STRIKE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ELITE OF CHIU TON. Near the 100 Metres, ELITE OF CHIU TON was steadied when crowded for room between HONGKONG SUPERSTAR and TAI SING YEH which was taken in by PERFECT STYLE (B Prebble). B Prebble was severely reprimanded and advised that he should have stopped riding and straightened his mount. Near the 50 Metres, HAPPY REUNION was steadied away from the heels of LOYAL ARMY. Over the concluding stages, BRILLIANT CHAPTER was awkwardly placed inside the heels of TAKE THE RAP which got its head on the side, shifted in and itself became awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOOD STRIKE. When questioned, H W Lai advised that he had been instructed to ride HAPPY REUNION quietly from barrier 10 as the horse had not finished its last two races off when ridden in a forward position. He said in those races the horse had been left racing wide from similar barriers and it was felt that if the horse was to be ridden in a forward position tonight, it would likely be left racing wide again. He said accordingly he took HAPPY REUNION across behind runners shortly after the start. He said when ridden in this fashion, HAPPY REUNION, which has hung in in its races, raced more tractably and finished off the race well. Trainer P F Yiu confirmed the instructions given to H W Lai. A veterinary inspection of TAI SING YEH and GOOD STRIKE after the race did not show any significant findings. TAI SING YEH, PERFECT STYLE and WILLING STORM were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that PERFECT STYLE and HONGKONG SUPERSTAR had both lost their right front plates.