17/05/2017  Happy Valley  Race 5

LOADED, which was fractious after being loaded, turned its head to the left just prior to the start being effected and consequently was slow to begin. WONDERFUL TIGER was also slow to begin. HAPPY BAO BEI shifted out on jumping and lost ground. Soon after entering the Back Straight near the 900 Metres, LOADED had to be steadied when momentarily crowded for room inside WONDERFUL TIGER which got its head on the side and lay in away from PEACE N PROSPERITY. Passing the 100 Metres, LOADED shifted out off the heels of CALIFORNIA ASPAR and inconvenienced HAPPY BAO BEI. VICTORY MACHINE raced wide and without cover throughout the event. C Y Ho (CALIFORNIA ASPAR) and Apprentice H N Wong (HAPPY BAO BEI) were questioned in respect of their riding of their mounts in the early and middle stages. C Y Ho stated that he was instructed to go forward on CALIFORNIA ASPAR and to lead if possible, but if the opportunity presented itself to find cover behind the lead, he should avail himself of that position. He said he rode CALIFORNIA ASPAR positively in the early stages and when he realized that there were four horses vying for the lead, he steadied CALIFORNIA ASPAR and ascertained whether he could take a trailing position behind the leading horses. He said however that when he did this JOLLY CONVERGENCE, which was racing to his inside and in a four wide position, was steadied and shifted back in to take up a three wide trailing position behind VICTORY MACHINE. He said as a consequence his mount was left racing four wide and without cover and as he did not believe it was still viable for him to find a trailing position, he then pressed forward and was hopeful of crossing VICTORY MACHINE which was being steadied by its rider after the 900 Metres. He said however that when he improved to the outside of VICTORY MACHINE, that horse then improved underneath CALIFORNIA ASPAR which prevented him from crossing and which forced him then to steady his mount and shift in behind VICTORY MACHINE. Apprentice Wong advised that as HAPPY BAO BEI was ridden patiently at its last start and performed below expectations, he had specific instructions from its outside barrier to lead. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode HAPPY BAO BEI vigorously in the early stages, however, the horse was slow to muster speed. He said he continued to ride HAPPY BAO BEI along rounding the first turn and pursued a forward position as he was instructed to do. He said however that HAPPY BAO BEI was not able to show sufficient speed to cross runners to his inside and his mount was left extremely wide and without cover along the Back Straight and soon afterwards came under pressure. Apprentice Wong was advised that whilst the Stewards appreciated that he was endeavouring to adhere to his instructions, in this instance he should have desisted from pressing forward well prior to the 600 Metres and at least have explored the opportunity to try and find a position closer to the rail which would have afforded his mount with more of an opportunity to close off the race. A veterinary inspection of INTREPIC immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of INTREPIC, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, INTREPIC will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. IRON BOY, BREEDERS’ STAR and PEACE N PROSPERITY were sent for sampling.