29/01/2020  Happy Valley  Race 8

JOYFUL UNION and BEAUTY AMIGO were crowded for room on jumping between MR CROISSANT and LOVING A BOOM which shifted out. In this incident, JOYFUL UNION became badly unbalanced and lost ground and bumped the hindquarters of BEAUTY AMIGO which in turn bumped MR CROISSANT which became unbalanced. GUNNISON began awkwardly. From a wide barrier, SUNSET WATCH was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. GRACEANDMERCY and WALDORF were also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Near the 1050 Metres, MR SO AND SO became unbalanced and lost ground when crowded for room between CUE THE MUSIC and MR CROISSANT which shifted out. Then near the 1000 Metres, MR SO AND SO was steadied away from the heels of CUE THE MUSIC which shifted in marginally when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GENTLE BREEZE. Near the 850 Metres, LOVING A BOOM was momentarily crowded for room inside MR CROISSANT which got its head on the side and shifted in away from the heels of GENTLE BREEZE. After this, LOVING A BOOM travelled keenly. After the 600 Metres, CUE THE MUSIC was left racing wide and without cover. K Teetan reported that after CUE THE MUSIC was left racing without cover, his mount came off the bridle and he had to place it under pressure near the 500 Metres to maintain its position. He said CUE THE MUSIC did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it weakened out of the race. A veterinary inspection of CUE THE MUSIC immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Rounding the Home Turn, CUE THE MUSIC raced tight outside MR CROISSANT which shifted out. Passing the 200 Metres, WALDORF was initially directed to the outside of LOVING A BOOM which shifted in under pressure. When LOVING A BOOM was straightened by its rider, WALDORF was then directed back to the inside of that horse to continue improving. Near the 100 Metres, GRACEANDMERCY was shifted out away from the heels of LOVING A BOOM. GRACEANDMERCY then had difficulty obtaining clear running for the remainder of the race. The Stewards will interview C Y Ho regarding his riding of SUNSET WATCH approaching and rounding the Home Turn prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Sunday, 2 February 2020. AMAZING STAR and WALDORF were sent for sampling. <2/2/2020 29 January 2020 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 8 (379)>The Stewards today questioned C Y Ho, the rider of SUNSET WATCH, regarding his riding, particularly after the 600 Metres. C Y Ho stated that in accordance with his instructions he shifted SUNSET WATCH across behind runners in the early stages from barrier 11. He said making the turn near the 1000 Metres he was left racing wide outside WALDORF and he steadied his mount to shift across with that horse as WALDORF was shifting in behind MR SO AND SO and then GRACEANDMERCY. He said after the 700 Metres he was following MR SO AND SO and as he had been instructed to try and save ground if possible, he continued to follow that horse rather than shift to its outside. He said in order to obtain inside runs, he shifted SUNSET WATCH in to follow WALDORF and after balancing up SUNSET WATCH at the top of the Straight then commenced to ride his mount along. He added SUNSET WATCH lay out in the Straight and was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of BEAUTY AMIGO near the 100 Metres as SUNSET WATCH, which was finishing off the race strongly, improved into tight running between that horse and JOYFUL UNION. C Y Ho was advised that his riding of SUNSET WATCH, particularly after the 600 Metres, had come under notice and he was told to ensure that his mounts do not get too far out of their ground and are placed in the best position at critical stages of the race.