28/03/2018  Happy Valley  Race 4

COUNTRY MELODY was crowded for room on jumping between MOMENTUM LUCKY and ALMABABY which shifted in. MOMENTUM LUCKY was then bumped by FABULOUS ONE which shifted out, resulting in MOMENTUM LUCKY becoming unbalanced. From the outside barrier, BLOCKER DEE was shifted across behind runners shortly after the start. GREAT HONOUR got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover shortly after the start. After initially being ridden along in the early stages, ALMABABY was steadied approaching the 1100 Metres in an attempt to obtain cover behind MOMENTUM LUCKY. ALMABABY then travelled keenly and was unable to shift in behind MOMENTUM LUCKY which resulted in ALMABABY travelling wide and without cover throughout. FABULOUS ONE made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly. BLOCKER DEE had some difficulty obtaining clear running approaching the 200 Metres and near the 150 Metres was shifted to the inside of JUMBO LUCK to obtain clear running. When questioned, Apprentice H N Wong stated that he was given identical instructions to those which he was given last start when riding FABULOUS ONE, those instructions being to obtain a forward position without having to make too much use of the horse. He said he was asked to attempt to lead the race, however, if another runner was intent on obtaining the lead, then he should allow that horse to go forward and take a trailing position. He said, unlike at its last start when FABULOUS ONE showed natural early speed, FABULOUS ONE tonight, despite being ridden along in the early stages, did not show the same speed that it showed at its most recent start. He said FABULOUS ONE became unbalanced at the start after shifting out and bumping MOMENTUM LUCKY and then, despite being ridden along for a considerable distance in the early stages, was reluctant to improve its position. He said when he noted JUMBO LUCK being aggressively ridden from a wide barrier to obtain a forward position, he formed the view passing the 1100 Metres that it was no longer possible for him to obtain the lead as JUMBO LUCK was showing superior speed to FABULOUS ONE and he felt that if he continued to ride his mount along, FABULOUS ONE would be left racing wide and without cover outside CALIFORNIA WHIP. He said he therefore made the decision making the first turn near the 1000 Metres to obtain a trailing position behind CALIFORNIA WHIP which resulted in FABULOUS ONE racing further back in the field than had been intended. He added after obtaining cover behind CALIFORNIA WHIP, FABULOUS ONE travelled keenly. Mr W Y So, the trainer of FABULOUS ONE, confirmed the instructions had been to obtain a forward position and lead if possible but not to make too much use of the horse to do so in the early stages so that FABULOUS ONE would be given the opportunity to close off the race. He said it was apparent that FABULOUS ONE did not show the same early speed that it had previously displayed in a number of its races and he was satisfied that Apprentice Wong had made a sufficient endeavour to comply with his instructions. A veterinary inspection of FABULOUS ONE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of JUMBO LUCK immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, JUMBO LUCK will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CALIFORNIA WHIP and E-SUPER were sent for sampling.