28/09/2011  Happy Valley  Race 7

REGENCY WINNER and VILASOL bumped at the start. GIVE WELL and JOYFUL TWINS also came into contact on jumping. After beginning awkwardly and making contact with the hindquarters of RECORD HIGH, WRATH OF FIRE was taken across behind runners soon after the start. Passing the 1300 Metres, REGENCY WINNER and GIVE WELL were crowded for room inside ALMIGHTY WINDPOWER (K C Leung) which shifted in momentarily. K C Leung was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he leaves comfortable racing room to runners to his inside in future. On the 1000 Metre turn, GIVE WELL hung out momentarily and bumped the hindquarters of ALMIGHTY WINDPOWER which became unbalanced. When GIVE WELL hung out, REGENCY WINNER improved quickly to be racing to the inside of that horse’s heels where it then raced tight for a short distance. Consequently GIVE WELL shifted back out into a two wide position to relieve the tightening to REGENCY WINNER which resulted in VILASOL being bumped and taken wider. VILASOL was then left racing wide and without cover and was allowed to stride forward into a more prominent position, however continued to race wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. On the Home Turn, MR BOND and RECORD HIGH came into contact which caused RECORD HIGH to become badly unbalanced. Then at the entrance to the Straight, OTTIMO shifted in abruptly away from the heels of RECORD HIGH, which was commencing to give ground, and made contact with JOYFUL TWINS. The performance of RECORD HIGH, which subsequently finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, RECORD HIGH will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Inside the 200 Metres, Apprentice T H So (MR BOND) momentarily dropped his right rein. Inside the 50 Metres, OTTIMO shifted out slightly under pressure, obliging its rider, D Whyte, to stop riding and straighten his mount. M Du Plessis (WRATH OF FIRE) reported his saddle shifted to the left near the 600 Metres which caused him some inconvenience for the remainder of the race. When questioned as to why he did not avail himself of the opportunity to shift out into a three wide position and follow VILASOL forward whilst maintaining cover behind that runner passing the 700 Metres, Apprentice M L Yeung explained that as GIVE WELL has a history of hanging out and indeed had hung out throughout the early and middle stages of the race, he was reluctant to leave the horse exposed and chose to remain racing on the back of ALMIGHTY WINDPOWER so that MOON CHASER would provide him with cover. Whilst Apprentice Yeung acknowledged that he had the opportunity to advance his position at this stage, he was reluctant to do so solely due to GIVE WELL’s racing manners. Apprentice Yeung was advised the Stewards would note his explanation, however, in future where circumstances permit he should avail himself of opportunities to improve into more favourable positions. A veterinary inspection of RECORD HIGH after the race did not show any significant findings. OTTIMO, REGENCY WINNER and LUNAR REFLECTIONS were sent for sampling.