09/12/2015  Happy Valley  Race 3

On jumping, ALL TOGETHER was badly crowded for room between RAPPER DRAGON which shifted out and LET ME DO which shifted in abruptly. In this incident, LET ME DO became badly unbalanced after being bumped heavily on the hindquarters by ALL TOGETHER. Approaching the 800 Metres, ACCEPTED commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of KINGSTON JUMBO. After this, ACCEPTED continued to prove difficult to settle and approaching the turn after the 600 Metres became unbalanced after shifting out and bumping E-SUPER which also became unbalanced. Making the turn near the 550 Metres, ALL TOGETHER got its head on the side and shifted out, resulting in LET ME DO being hampered when taken wider. ALL TOGETHER continued to lay out for some distance after this. Near the 450 Metres, RAPPER DRAGON got its head up when racing close to the heels of E-SUPER. Close to the finishing line, KINGSTON JUMBO shifted out abruptly, resulting in its rider, H W Lai, becoming badly unbalanced and almost being dislodged. When KINGSTON JUMBO shifted out abruptly, GENERAL IRON, which was following, struck the heels of that horse and blundered badly, causing J Moreira, its rider, to be dislodged after the winning post. J Moreira was subsequently examined by the Club's medical officers and passed fit to fulfil his remaining race riding engagements. Throughout the race, GENERAL IRON and MULTIMAX travelled wide and without cover. E-SUPER lost its right front plate whilst KINGSTON JUMBO lost its left hind plate after the race. When questioned, K Teetan stated that it had been intended for E-SUPER, which was having its first start at Happy Valley, to be ridden behind the leaders if possible. He said in its previous races at Sha Tin, E-SUPER had begun well, however, tonight, the horse, which was fractious in the barriers, did not begin well and as it was racing at the course for the first time, he was reluctant to ride it along as he did not want E-SUPER being left racing wide given the circumstances. He said when E-SUPER began only fairly, he allowed the horse to improve its positon to race outside ACCEPTED with cover, but further back in the field than had been intended. He added after making contact with ACCEPTED rounding the first turn, E-SUPER was inclined to lay out and near the 450 Metres shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of MULTIMAX. He said he placed the horse under pressure prior to the Home Turn but it was not until the time that he was able to shift the horse to the outside of ACCEPTED approaching the 200 Metres that E-SUPER lengthened stride and closed off the race strongly. When questioned, N Rawiller (RAPPER DRAGON) stated that after becoming unbalanced shortly after the start, he was able to obtain a position with cover outside E-SUPER passing the 800 Metres. He said he rode his mount along after the 700 Metres in an attempt to obtain an advantage over E-SUPER, however, RAPPER DRAGON did not pick up at this time and then made the first turn awkwardly after E-SUPER shifted out towards RAPPER DRAGON. He added when this happened RAPPER DRAGON became unbalanced and it was not until after entering the Straight that he was able to get the horse properly balanced at which time he commenced to ride it along. He said when ridden out in the Straight RAPPER DRAGON then closed off the race strongly. He said he did feel that had it not have been for RAPPER DRAGON becoming unbalanced in the middle stages, the horse would have finished much closer than it did in the race. A veterinary inspection of MULTIMAX immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ACCEPTED and E-SUPER were sent for sampling.