08/07/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

WINNING WARRIOR, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 7.7.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind). Before being allowed to race again, WINNING WARRIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. JUNZI began only fairly. SOLAR VICTORY, which was fractious in the barriers, began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped HAPPY WINNER. SOLAR VICTORY then became unbalanced, shifted out and made contact with the hindquarters of PLAY TO WIN which became unbalanced and which caused SOLAR VICTORY to then shift in and again bump the hindquarters of HAPPY WINNER which was racing tight outside YEE CHEONG LUCKY after receiving contact from that horse. AURORA STEED was tightened for room on jumping between SUPREME PLUS and KWAI CHUNG ELITE, both of which shifted ground. After this, KWAI CHUNG ELITE was steadied to obtain cover. From a wide barrier, EXPONENTS was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. In the early stages, AURORA STEED was steadied in an attempt to obtain cover from a wide barrier, however, raced wide and without cover for the majority of the race. Near the 850 Metres, SUPREME PLUS and AURORA STEED bumped as a result of both horses shifting ground. Approaching the 400 Metres, JUNZI improved into tight running inside the heels of HAPPY WINNER (Z Purton) which shifted out marginally. Then near the 350 Metres, JUNZI was steadied and shifted to the outside of HAPPY WINNER after being disappointed for running inside that horse which shifted back in. As the Stewards were not able to establish to the necessary degree whether HAPPY WINNER had shifted out sufficiently for JUNZI to be able to improve comfortably to the inside of that horse prior to HAPPY WINNER shifting back in, they afforded Z Purton the benefit of the doubt and took no further action other than to advise him to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Rounding the Home Turn, FLYING MONKEY got its head on the side and lay out. FLYING MONKEY then lay out under pressure in the Straight. In the early part of the Straight, KWAI CHUNG ELITE raced tight outside SUPREME PLUS. Over the concluding stages, FLYING MONKEY, which continued to lay out, was awkwardly placed inside the heels of FOX CHEUNGER which shifted in under pressure. A veterinary inspection of JUNZI immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPREME PLUS and FOX CHEUNGER were sent for sampling.