14/04/2021  Happy Valley  Race 9

GREEN LUCK shifted in at the start and inconvenienced TSAR and RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE which began only fairly. From wide barriers, LAKESHORE EAGLE and SAVAQUIN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching and passing the 900 Metres, TSAR travelled keenly. Rounding the Home Turn, BERLIN TANGO raced tight outside GREEN LUCK which shifted to the outside of TIANCHI MONSTER to improve. Passing the 300 Metres, RELIABLE TEAM raced tight inside MAGNIFICENT (V Borges) which got its head on the side and lay in. This resulted in RELIABLE TEAM and MAGNIFICENT bumping. After changing his whip into his right hand shortly after this, V Borges dropped his whip. C Wong (TIANCHI MONSTER) dropped his whip approaching the 250 Metres. Passing the 250 Metres, SAVAQUIN was bumped by RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE which shifted in. Passing the 150 Metres, GREEN LUCK and BERLIN TANGO raced tight. When questioned, M L Yeung stated that it was originally felt that the best option for ELITE PATCH was for that horse to be ridden in a forward positon, however, with MAGNIFICENT and RELIABLE TEAM being engaged in the race, it was believed that ELITE PATCH may get left racing wide and without cover were it to be ridden in a forward position as his mount may not have the same early speed as those horses which had previously been ridden successfully in a forward position. He said it was therefore agreed that ELITE PATCH should be steadied in the early stages and obtain a position with cover. He said when being steadied in the early stages, ELITE PATCH proved very difficult to restrain and in the early stages was left racing outside of BERLIN TANGO and then after being able to obtain a position behind that horse after passing the winning post on the first occasion, he was required to shift ELITE PATCH away from the heels of BERLIN TANGO due to the manner in which his horse was racing. He said after shifting away from the heels of BERLIN TANGO near the 1100 Metres, he then allowed ELITE PATCH to improve its position and had intended to continue forward of MAGNIFICENT and obtain a position outside the leader RELIABLE TEAM. He said as he was improving past MAGNIFICENT, that horse was ridden along to maintain its position and although he got about a length in front of MAGNIFICENT, he believed that he would have had to make a lot of use of ELITE PATCH to continue forward of MAGNIFICENT due to the manner in which the horse was being ridden to maintain its position. He added therefore he elected to remain racing in a three wide position outside MAGNIFICENT. He said ELITE PATCH came under pressure after the 500 Metres and then gave ground noticeably in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of ELITE PATCH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FLYING QUEST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHARITY FUN and SAVAQUIN were sent for sampling.