20/10/2010  Happy Valley  Race 7

From a draw towards the outside, KICK SERVE was steadied shortly after the start and taken across behind other runners. For some distance after the start, MR VIGOROUS and MASTER RIO raced in restricted room between VINTAGE HUSSLER and RAINBOW SEEKER which shifted in. Shortly after the start, PAR EXCELLENCE became badly unbalanced when heavily bumped by SHOWTIME which shifted in after being bumped by REGENCY WINNER which also shifted in after beginning awkwardly. In this incident, PAR EXCELLENCE made heavy contact with the hindquarters of MULTIBULLISH, resulting in that horse becoming unbalanced. Approaching the 500 Metres, SHOWTIME was checked away from the heels of MULTIBULLISH. At the entrance to the Straight, MR VIGOROUS (Apprentice T H So) was awkwardly placed close to the heels of VINTAGE HUSSLER. This resulted in MR VIGOROUS striking the heels of VINTAGE HUSSLER which became unbalanced. Apprentice So was advised against the practice of allowing his mounts to race too close to the heels of runners in front. A veterinary inspection of VINTAGE HUSSLER after the race revealed that the horse had sustained abrasions above the right hock. Near the 150 Metres, MR VIGOROUS was awkwardly placed inside the heels of VINTAGE HUSSLER. After this, MR VIGOROUS was held up for clear running behind VINTAGE HUSSLER and because of this was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. Over the concluding stages, REGENCY WINNER, which was closing off the race strongly, was unable to continue improving when held up on the heels of HORSE GALORE. Because of this, REGENCY WINNER was also not ridden out to the end of the race as it otherwise would be. Also over the concluding stages, PAR EXCELLENCE got its head on the side and lay in. When questioned, Y T Cheng stated that he had been instructed to ride HORSE GALORE positively so as to clear horses to his inside and take up a forward position. He said rounding the turn near the 1000 Metres he was racing in a three wide position outside RAINBOW SEEKER, he allowed HORSE GALORE to continue forward to clear that horse and raced in a position outside the leader, VINTAGE HUSSLER. He said after obtaining the position one horse off the fence near the 800 Metres, he attempted to steady the tempo as, in his opinion, the pace of the race in the early stages was quick. When questioned, H W Lai stated that he had been instructed to lead on BET ON ME if possible. He said after jumping from the outside barrier, he rode aggressively in the early stages to clear runners to his inside. He said rounding the first turn he was racing in a three wide position to the outside of HORSE GALORE. He said when it became apparent to him that that horse was going to maintain its position outside the leader, VINTAGE HUSSLER, he attempted to steady BET ON ME with a view to shifting in behind HORSE GALORE. He said however RAINBOW SEEKER was maintaining its position behind HORSE GALORE and, in any case, BET ON ME at this time was racing too keenly after having been ridden aggressively in the early stages of the race. He said for this reason BET ON ME was obliged to race three wide and without cover throughout the race. VINTAGE HUSSLER, RAINBOW SEEKER and PAR EXCELLENCE were sent for sampling.