22/02/2017  Happy Valley  Race 2

VICTORY MUSIC was slow to begin. TRENDY WIN, which was being ridden along, was hampered shortly after the start when crowded for room between YOUNG DREAMER which shifted out and DARING HEART which was taken in by CATCHMEIFYOUCAN which was in turn racing tight inside CURLING LUXURY. From a wide barrier, EXCELLENCE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1400 Metres, YOUNG DREAMER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CATCHMEIFYOUCAN. YOU HAVE MY WORD lost its right front plate near the 1050 Metres. Making the turn after the 1000 Metres, YOU HAVE MY WORD got its head on the side and lay out. Rounding the Home Turn, YOUNG DREAMER was shifted out away from the heels of PEARL FURU which was giving ground. Passing the 200 Metres, as EXCELLENCE was attempting to improve between HOUSE OF LUCK and FUN MANAGER, FUN MANAGER shifted in marginally before its rider, C Y Ho, stopped riding and straightened the horse. This resulted in EXCELLENCE being crowded for room between HOUSE OF LUCK and FUN MANAGER. A short distance later, EXCELLENCE, which was persevering for the run between HOUSE OF LUCK and FUN MANAGER, was steadied after again being tightened between those horses when FUN MANAGER was taken in further by CURLING LUXURY (Apprentice H N Wong) which shifted in under pressure. In this incident, FUN MANAGER, which was giving ground, was also hampered. Apprentice Wong was advised that whilst there were some circumstances to this incident, nonetheless he would be expected to make more of an effort to prevent his mounts from shifting ground than he did on this occasion. For the majority of the race, PEARL FURU travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. After a lengthy delay to the placings being declared whilst the Judge determined the result of the race, T H So, the rider of the second placed, TRENDY WIN, requested to view the photo finish print. After being shown a copy of the photo finish image, T H So queried whether a margin existed between the horses at the end of the race. The Stewards consequently viewed the photo finish print and were satisfied that a margin existed in favour of SPINNING DANCER over TRENDY WIN and accordingly declared weighed-in on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. SPINNING DANCER and TRENDY WIN were sent for sampling.