19/01/2011  Happy Valley  Race 1

GOOD JOB was crowded for room at the start between POWER AND GOLD and MAGIC KING which got its head on the side and shifted in. SHATIN TREASURE began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of SIMPLY JOY. Shortly after the start, MORE THAN YOU WISH was checked when taken across the heels of DR UNION by GORGEOUS LIFE which itself was taken out by PAPER WINS which got its head on the side and shifted ground despite the efforts of its rider. Making the turn near the 1000 Metres, GOOD JOB got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied away from the heels of POWER AND GOLD. For some distance after this, GOOD JOB continued to over race and then passing the 600 Metres was checked away from the heels of POWER AND GOLD. When being steadied to allow SHATIN TREASURE to cross near the 900 Metres, MAGIC KING got its head up and commenced to over-race. MAGIC KING then continued to prove difficult to settle and for some distance passing the 600 Metres was checked away from the heels of SIMPLY JOY. Passing the 900 Metres, GORGEOUS LIFE was momentarily crowded for room inside DR UNION which shifted in. At the 600 Metres, RAY’S FAVOURITE shifted out when being checked away from the heels of MAGIC KING and in doing so bumped GORGEOUS LIFE which became unbalanced. Over the final 50 Metres, GOOD JOB was not able to obtain clear running and consequently was not ridden out to the end of the race. Close to the finishing line, GRANDFIELD was unable to obtain clear running when held up behind MUTUAL GAIN. When awkwardly placed close to the heels of MUTUAL GAIN, GRANDFIELD shifted out, resulting in RAY’S FAVOURITE being crowded for room inside DR UNION which shifted in slightly at this time. Because of this, GRANDFIELD was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. Throughout the race, DR UNION travelled wide and without cover. Apprentice T H So (SHATIN TREASURE) was warned against the practice of unnecessarily looking around in races. When questioned regarding the improved performance of SIMPLY JOY, Trainer A Lee stated that following its first up run this season in which it finished third, the horse had been disappointing in its subsequent three starts. He said following its most recent run when the horse gave ground in the Straight, he discussed retiring the horse with its owner, however, it was decided that as SIMPLY JOY may not have been appreciating the firmer track at Sha Tin, the horse should be tried at either the Happy Valley or the All Weather surface which are generally more forgiving. He said he also felt that SIMPLY JOY would benefit by being brought back in distance as he did not consider that it was able to cope with races beyond that distance. He added that tonight SIMPLY JOY appeared to appreciate the Happy Valley surface and the horse benefited by being in a forward position in a slowly run race. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that MAGIC KING had lost its left front plate. POWER AND GOLD, SIMPLY JOY and MUTUAL GAIN were sent for sampling.