07/09/2016  Happy Valley  Race 8

From the outside barrier, PABLOSKY got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied in order to be shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 700 Metres, HIGH FIVE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HAMMER KING after initially being taken out by TRAVEL RENYI. Rounding the Home Turn, MAJESTIC ANTHEM was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TRAVEL RENYI. At the entrance to the Straight, BULLISH SMART was disappointed for running between RIGHTEOUS and ALMABABY which shifted in after initially laying out rounding the Home Turn. Passing the 300 Metres, HIGH FIVE shifted to the outside of HAMMER KING after being disappointed for running inside that horse which got its head on the side and shifted in. After this, HAMMER KING continued to lay in under pressure in the Straight. When questioned, Y T Cheng stated that he had been instructed to take up a forward position on ALMABABY in accordance with the horse's usual racing pattern. He said he rode ALMABABY aggressively in the early stages, however, making the first turn was left racing very wide and in between RIGHTEOUS and HELLA HEDGE, both of which were also being hard ridden. He said after having made a lot of use of ALMABABY in the early stages, he felt that he would have had to make too much further use of his mount to clear RIGHTEOUS on his inside and therefore he elected, making the first turn, to steady his mount and obtain a position with cover. He said making the turn approaching the 1000 Metres ALMABABY became unbalanced when crowded for room between RIGHTEOUS and HELLA HEDGE which lay in. He added after making the first turn he was unable to obtain cover and consequently was left racing in a three wide position outside the leader. He said making the Home Turn ALMABABY got its head on the side and hung out. He said he then balanced ALMABABY up and rode the horse out in the Straight, however, it gave ground. When questioned, Apprentice K K Chiong (CHARITY JOY) stated that she had been asked to ride the horse behind the leaders if possible, however, she was not to ride it aggressively to do so as it had proved difficult to settle in some of its previous races. She said after beginning only fairly CHARITY JOY was crowded for room between RIGHTEOUS and HAMMER KING which was taken out by MAJESTIC ANTHEM which resulted in the horse being placed further back in the field than had been intended. She said making the first turn she was reluctant to ride her mount along given her instructions and therefore she allowed the eventual winner BLOCKER DEE to cross CHARITY JOY approaching the 1000 Metres and elected to follow that horse throughout the race. She said, despite riding CHARITY JOY along near the 400 Metres, BLOCKER DEE showed a superior turn of foot and she was not able to follow that horse into the Straight. She added at the entrance to the Straight she shifted her mount to the outside of runners and CHARITY JOY then finished off the race satisfactorily. The Stewards will question Mr C S Shum, the trainer of CHARITY JOY, prior to the races at the Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 11 September 2016 prior to this matter being concluded. BLOCKER DEE and MR BOGART were sent for sampling.