15/01/2020  Happy Valley  Race 5

SURREALISM began awkwardly and lost ground and then shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of VIGOR FAME which shifted out. When being steadied from a wide barrier to obtain cover, BIG BANG BONG was crowded for room shortly after the start between GAYSON and PICKEN which shifted in. After travelling a short distance, NAMJONG PLUS and TOP SCORE raced tight. NAMJONG PLUS then became unbalanced when bumped by TOP SCORE which shifted out. Near the 1400 Metres, TOP SCORE was steadied away from the heels of EPIC which shifted in. Near the 450 Metres, BIG BANG BONG and GAYSON raced tight as BIG BANG BONG attempted to shift out from behind NAMJONG PLUS. In the early part of the Straight, GAYSON lay in under pressure. When questioned regarding his riding of CHUNG WAH SPIRIT, T H So stated that it was initially thought that CHUNG WAH SPIRIT should be ridden along in the early stages from the outside barrier to obtain a forward position, however, given the makeup of the field, it was felt that there would be a strong possibility that CHUNG WAH SPIRIT would be left racing wide and without cover and racing on the C+3 course, it was considered that it would be in the best interests of the horse to be shifted across behind runners to obtain cover and then be ridden for luck. He said after shifting his mount across behind runners, CHUNG WAH SPIRIT initially got out of its ground, however, after the 1300 Metres improved its position to be racing behind BIG BANG BONG. He said after initially being awkwardly placed behind that horse near the 1200 Metres, CHUNG WAH SPIRIT relaxed and was comfortable racing at the rear of the field. He said he considered improving his position after the 1000 Metres to follow GAYSON, however, as he attempted to save ground rounding the Home Turn, he elected to remain racing behind BIG BANG BONG rather than improving his position to the outside of that horse. He added approaching the 400 Metres he had improved his position to be racing behind BIG BANG BONG and when that horse was steadied and shifted to the inside of NAMJONG PLUS after initially attempting to shift to that horse’s outside, this resulted in CHUNG WAH SPIRIT being awkwardly placed behind BIG BANG BONG. He said when BIG BANG BONG shifted back in, he immediately commenced to ride his mount to improve to that horse’s outside and after balancing up CHUNG WAH SPIRIT in the early part of the Straight, he commenced to ride his mount out vigorously in the Straight and CHUNG WAH SPIRIT finished off the race well. T H So was advised that his riding of CHUNG WAH SPIRIT in the middle stages had come under notice in that he had got too far out of his ground when there was an opportunity to improve his position to follow GAYSON. He was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner so as to leave no room for query. When questioned regarding the performance of PICKEN, J Moreira stated that from the wide barrier he was able to obtain a forward position in the early stages as instructed without having to make too much use of the horse. He said he was able to obtain a position outside and sitting off the eventual winner VIGOR FAME and PICKEN travelled strongly in the middle stages. He said PICKEN continued to travel strongly at the 600 Metres and he anticipated that the horse would finish off the race well, however, came under heavy pressure passing the 500 Metres and despite being hard ridden did not respond to his riding. He said he continued to ride PICKEN along rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, however, the horse did not quicken and then was disappointing in the manner in which it weakened over the final 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of PICKEN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SURREALISM, VIGOR FAME and BIG BANG BONG were sent for sampling.