10/03/2021  Happy Valley  Race 6

PICHU was slow to begin. VALIANT ELEGANCE began awkwardly, shifted out at the start and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of U W BROTHER. MAGIC BONUS was crowded for room on jumping between LEGEND GOES and JOLLY GOOD HEART, both of which shifted ground. Passing the 800 Metres, VICTORY IN HAND raced tight inside the heels of FLAMING PASSION which shifted in before being directed out to relieve the tightening to VICTORY IN HAND. MAGIC BONUS got its head on the side and made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly. At the entrance to the Straight, JOYFUL WIN lay in. FLAMING PASSION lay out under pressure after the 200 Metres, requiring its rider to change his whip over into the left hand approaching the 100 Metres. Throughout the race, TELECOM PUMA travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that it was decided to drop VICTORY IN HAND back in distance tonight as the horse had not been finishing off its races strongly over 1200 Metres. He said he was asked to begin positively on VICTORY IN HAND, but to obtain cover as the horse had previously travelled keenly in its races and it was felt that providing VICTORY IN HAND with cover would allow it to settle better. He said, from barrier 9, he shifted VICTORY IN HAND across behind SPICY SO GOOD which was drawn immediately inside VICTORY IN HAND and was being ridden along in the early stages. He said after the 900 Metres he had to ride his mount along as VICTORY IN HAND was not travelling as strongly as anticipated. He said after the 800 Metres he had to ride VICTORY IN HAND vigorously to prevent the horse from getting too far out of its ground and then making the turn after the 600 Metres VICTORY IN HAND got its head on the side and lay out when positioned behind FLAMING PASSION. He added he was able to maintain cover on VICTORY IN HAND and after obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight the horse then finished off the race strongly. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SPICY SO GOOD at the request of Trainer C S Shum. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SPICY SO GOOD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of VALIANT ELEGANCE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in its trachea and also found the horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. FLAMING PASSION, TRAVEL DATUK and VICTORY IN HAND were sent for sampling.