21/10/2020  Happy Valley  Race 5

LUCKY MISSILE was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever). Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY MISSILE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded into the barriers, THIS IS CHARISMA became fractious and reared on a number of occasions and on the final occasion got its left front leg over into the adjoining stall. THIS IS CHARISMA was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion the horse was not suitable to race. Accordingly, THIS IS CHARISMA was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, THIS IS CHARISMA will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ANONYMA, which was in the adjoining stall to THIS IS CHARISMA, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. As the start was effected, DAILY BEAUTY lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. STAR PRESENT shifted in at the start and made contact with MURRAY’S PARTNERS. ELECTRIC LIGHTNING shifted out at the start and bumped ELIGERE. After this, ELECTRIC LIGHTNING was steadied to obtain cover and passing the winning post on the first occasion was left racing wide and without cover outside MURRAY’S PARTNERS. ELECTRIC LIGHTNING was then further steadied after the 1300 Metres to obtain cover, however, continued to race wide and without cover throughout. From the outside barriers, CHARITY WINGS and RIGHT HONOURABLE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, STAR PRESENT, which was travelling keenly, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of ANONYMA (H W Lai) which shifted in when not properly clear. H W Lai was reprimanded and told to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Approaching the 1300 Metres, DAILY BEAUTY became unbalanced after shifting in and brushing the running rail. This resulted in DAILY BEAUTY shifting out and bumping the hindquarters of MURRAY’S PARTNERS. GREAT TIMES and RIGHT HONOURABLE, which were following, were inconvenienced in consequence. Making the turn near the 600 Metres, GREAT TIMES momentarily raced in restricted room between CHARITY WINGS and RIGHT HONOURABLE which shifted out to improve around STAR WIN. When changing his whip into his right hand passing the 100 Metres, K Teetan (MURRAY’S PARTNERS) dropped his right rein. His whip then became entangled in his right rein over the concluding stages. Over the concluding stages, DAILY BEAUTY lay in under pressure. When questioned, M L Yeung (STAR WIN) stated that in the middle stages he occupied a good position behind ELIGERE which was racing outside the lead. He said after the 700 Metres he became aware that MURRAY’S PARTNERS was commencing to improve its position to the outside of STAR WIN and whilst the opportunity was available for him to shift STAR WIN to the outside of ELIGERE into a three wide position, he felt that it was too early in the race to make such a move as STAR WIN would have had too much to do and would not have been able to finish off the race. He said he therefore elected not to shift out but rather remained racing behind ELIGERE and improved behind that horse when it commenced to be ridden along after the 500 Metres. He added STAR WIN did not quicken when ELIGERE improved its position and then finished off the race only fairly over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of DAILY BEAUTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MURRAY’S PARTNERS and ANONYMA were sent for sampling.