25/11/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

JAZZ STEED and AMBITIOUS HEART bumped at the start. TOP ACCOLADE began awkwardly. Despite being vigorously ridden for some distance in the early stages, GREAT SON failed to muster speed and then after the 1000 Metres was steadied to obtain cover. Near the 1000 Metres, SKY CHAMPION, which was travelling keenly, was steadied away from the heels of NOBLE BIRTH which shifted in. NOBLE BIRTH travelled very keenly in the middle stage and approaching and passing the 800 Metres was awkwardly placed behind CANTSTOPTHEFEELING. At the entrance to the Straight, NOBLE BIRTH raced tight outside MONKEY JEWELLERY which shifted out. Near the 150 Metres, TOP ACCOLADE was shifted in away from the heels of HERO TIME which shifted in under pressure. Then near the 100 Metres, TOP ACCOLADE momentarily raced in restricted room inside HERO TIME. Passing the 150 Metres, NOBLE BIRTH was momentarily eased away from the heels of JAZZ STEED (Apprentice C L Chau) which shifted in when not properly clear. Apprentice Chau was advised to exercise more care. When questioned, K C Leung (VIVA CHEF) stated that it was anticipated that ONE HAPPY STAR and GREAT SON would lead and as it was felt that horses that were racing up on the speed were more advantaged in earlier races this evening, he was asked to obtain a position behind the leaders if possible. He said it was however stressed to him the need to obtain cover. He said VIVA CHEF began very well and he did not ride his mount along at all in the early stages. He said he observed that CANTSTOPTHEFEELING, which was drawn immediately inside VIVA CHEF, was being vigorously ridden in the early stages and therefore he commenced to steady his mount shortly after the start with a view to obtaining a trailing position. He said as he did this VIVA CHEF commenced to travel keenly and because of this he was not able to steady his mount to obtain a position with cover behind CANTSTOPTHEFEELING. He said VIVA CHEF continued to travel keenly and due to the circumstances of the race after the 1100 Metres he was left racing very wide and without cover. He added he continued to steady VIVA CHEF in an attempt to fulfil his instructions, however, when CANTSTOPTHEFEELING improved its position sufficiently for VIVA CHEF to obtain a trailing position behind that horse near the 800 Metres, NOBLE BIRTH had improved its position to be following that horse and therefore VIVA CHEF, which was continuing to travel keenly, was required to race wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. He said VIVA CHEF came under pressure after the 500 Metres and then gave ground noticeably in the Straight. He said he attributed the disappointing performance of the horse to the fact that it over-raced when left racing without cover. The performance of VIVA CHEF, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, VIVA CHEF will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, B Shinn (VICTORIA GENERAL) stated that he was asked to ride VICTORIA GENERAL, which was having its first race start tonight, where it was comfortable. He said Mr D J Hall, the trainer of VICTORIA GENERAL, was mindful of the fact that the horse had travelled keenly in a number of trials and he wanted to ensure that it settled so that VICTORIA GENERAL which was expected to be better suited over distances of longer than tonight’s race would be able to finish off the race well. He said on jumping VICTORIA GENERAL was hampered by MONKEY JEWELLERY which shifted out and this resulted in VICTORIA GENERAL losing ground. He said he shifted his mount across towards the rail in the early stages and VICTORIA GENERAL raced greenly in the early and middle stages. He said he rode the horse along passing the 1000 Metres to obtain a closer position and then slapped it down the shoulder near the 950 Metres to have it improve its position. He said VICTORIA GENERAL got its head on the side and lay in along the Back Straight and he had to ride the horse along after the 800 Metres to have it travel better. He said this included continuing to slap the horse down the shoulder with the whip. He said it was not until near the 500 Metres that VICTORIA GENERAL commenced to travel more strongly and the horse, when being urged along, made up good ground passing the 400 Metres. He said rounding the Home Turn he improved into running available between SKY CHAMPION and VIVA CHEF and after momentarily having to balance up VICTORIA GENERAL when the run commenced to tighten, he then commenced to ride his mount along at the entrance to the Straight. He added VICTORIA GENERAL immediately responded to his riding. He said at the 100 Metres he shifted VICTORIA GENERAL, which was closing off the race strongly, to the inside of ONE HAPPY STAR to obtain clear running and then VICTORIA GENERAL closed off the race well. A veterinary inspection of CANTSTOPTHEFEELING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MONKEY JEWELLERY immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, MONKEY JEWELLERY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AMBITIOUS HEART and JAZZ STEED were sent for sampling.