28/10/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

SPLIT OF A SECOND began only fairly. PRECISION DREAM got its head up on jumping and began awkwardly. MANNA FROM HEAVEN shifted out at the start and inconvenienced FRESH POWER. FANTASTIC FABIO and HARRIER JET bumped at the start. Shortly after the start, MANNA FROM HEAVEN and SPRINT FORWARD brushed. From the outside barrier, WON BALL was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 700 Metres, SPRINT FORWARD was awkwardly placed inside the heels of HARRIER JET. Also after the 700 Metres, FRESH POWER was left racing wide and without cover and making the turn near the 600 Metres was bumped by SPRINT FORWARD which shifted out away from the heels of HARRIER JET. For a considerable distance in the middle stages, PRECISION DREAM, which was having its first race start, got its head up and raced ungenerously. After changing his whip into his right hand near the 250 Metres, H N Wong (WON BALL) was momentarily restricted in his use of the whip approaching the 200 Metres when racing tight outside SUPREME PLUS. Close to the finishing line, HAPPILY FRIENDS raced tight inside SPRINT FORWARD and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. When questioned, B Shinn (HAPPY TIME) stated that he was initially asked to ride the horse quietly from the outside barrier, however, it was also acceptable for him to take up a forward position if HAPPY TIME began well as the horse had trialed well in preparation for tonight’s race when ridden in the lead. He said HAPPY TIME had also been ridden in a forward position in some of its races in the past. He said HAPPY TIME began only fairly but he soon formed the view that he would have had to make a lot of use of the horse to obtain a forward position without having to race wide and therefore elected to steady HAPPY TIME and shift across behind runners to obtain cover. He said approaching the 500 Metres he shifted out from behind MANNA FROM HEAVEN to follow SUPREME PLUS. He said passing the 500 Metres he became aware that WON BALL was improving its position around HAPPY TIME, however, as he believed that SUPREME PLUS would take him into the race and so as to avoid racing wide given that HAPPY TIME was first up tonight and carrying 127 lbs, he elected not to shift to the outside of SUPREME PLUS and attempted to obtain runs inside that horse in the early part of the Straight. He added he initially considered attempting to improve between SUPREME PLUS and FRESH POWER, but as SPRINT FORWARD was shifting FRESH POWER out at the entrance to the Straight to obtain clear running, he elected to direct HAPPY TIME to the outside of SUPREME PLUS and WON BALL and obtain clear running approaching the 200 Metres. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SUPREME PLUS at the request of Trainer F C Lor. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SUPREME PLUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of FANTASTIC FABIO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WHISKEY NEAT, HARRIER JET and SPRINT FORWARD were sent for sampling.