24/11/2021  Happy Valley  Race 2

HAPPY LAND, which made contact with a rail going onto the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the barriers and found to be suitable to race. NORDIC WARRIOR shifted out at the start, resulting in KING DRAGON being crowded for room inside FORTUNE WINNER and causing all three horses to become unbalanced. SUPER RED DRAGON and TRAVEL GLORY bumped at the start. AI ONE was steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, FORTUNE WINNER and KING DRAGON bumped. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, SUPER RED DRAGON was steadied away from the heels of TRAVEL GLORY (A Badel) which shifted in when not properly clear. A Badel was advised to exercise more care. Making the turn at the 650 Metres, OFF THE REEL lay in towards the heels of HEAVENLY THOUGHT, resulting in TRAVEL GLORY being crowded for room outside DR WINNING. SUPER RED DRAGON, which was following TRAVEL GLORY, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Near the 550 Metres, NORDIC WARRIOR lost ground when momentarily crowded for room inside SUPER RED DRAGON (V Borges) which shifted in before being directed back out to relieve the crowding to NORDIC WARRIOR. As the Stewards were of the opinion that V Borges had reacted in a timely manner to SUPER RED DRAGON shifting ground, no further action was taken. When NORDIC WARRIOR lost ground, AI ONE, which was following, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. After the 500 Metres, TRAVEL GLORY was shifted out away from the heels of HEAVENLY THOUGHT which commenced to give ground. Approaching the 400 Metres, SUPER RED DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of YEE CHEONG WARRIOR when being directed to the inside of HEAVENLY THOUGHT which continued to give ground. A veterinary inspection of HEAVENLY THOUGHT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of HEAVENLY THOUGHT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HEAVENLY THOUGHT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. At the entrance to the Straight, FORTUNE WINNER raced tight outside AI ONE which shifted out to improve. Near the 250 Metres, K Teetan (KING DRAGON) dropped his whip. As this was the third occasion this season that K Teetan had been reported to have dropped his whip in races, he was placed on notice that should he again drop his whip this season, further action may be taken. Throughout the race, OFF THE REEL travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, R Maia stated that he was instructed to obtain a forward position on HAPPY LAND and if possible to obtain a position on the rail and then allow other runners to improve forward of HAPPY LAND to afford that horse a trailing position. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode HAPPY LAND along in the early stages and passing the winning post on the first occasion was able to shift across to race on the rail in the lead. He said he then immediately steadied his mount with a view to allowing runners to his outside to improve their position, however, HEAVENLY THOUGHT, which was racing outside HAPPY LAND, remained racing in that position which resulted in HAPPY LANG racing in the lead. He said when unable to obtain cover, HAPPY LAND, which was racing with the blinkers added for the first time in Hong Kong, travelled too keenly and would not relax for him. He added he attempted to steady HAPPY LAND as he was aware that the race was being run at a fast tempo, however, the horse would not respond and continued to travel too strongly in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of KING DRAGON and OFF THE REEL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DR WINNING, YEE CHEONG WARRIOR and AI ONE were sent for sampling.