26/01/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

MISTER ARM (V Borges) began only fairly and shifted out abruptly, resulting in V CHEVALIERS being crowded for room inside CHATER PINS which also shifted in. After this, despite being ridden along for some distance, MISTER ARM failed to muster speed. After the race, V Borges said that after failing to show speed in the early stages, MISTER ARM was required to race much further back in the field than had been anticipated and after travelling only fairly in the run then finished the race off only one-paced in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of MISTER ARM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BIG TWO shifted out on jumping and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of VILLA FIONN. From wide barriers, ERNEST FEELING and MURRAY’S PARTNERS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. ERNEST FEELING made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly and shifted out towards the heels of MISTER ARM, resulting in MURRAY’S PARTNERS, which was racing outside ERNEST FEELING, being hampered. Rounding the Home Turn, AMAZING NEWS was awkwardly placed behind COURAGEOUS KNIGHT. Approaching the 200 Metres, ERNEST FEELING shifted out and inconvenienced MISTER ARM. When questioned, C Y Ho (AMAZING NEWS) stated that rounding the Home Turn he shifted out from behind COURAGEOUS KNIGHT with a view to improving to the outside of SPEED FAY FAY and inside VILLA FIONN in the early part of the Straight to obtain clear running. He said at the entrance to the Straight he was racing about a neck behind VILLA FIONN and because of this was not able to shift that horse out. He said VILLA FIONN then shifted to the outside of SPEED FAY FAY which resulted in him not being able to improve to the outside of SPEED FAY FAY. He said at this time a run appeared to the inside of SPEED FAY FAY and outside COURAGEOUS KNIGHT and as this run was available and there was no clear running to the outside of SPEED FAY FAY at this time, he shifted his mount to the inside of that horse to obtain clear running. He said when SPEED FAY FAY (C L Chau) shifted in passing the 300 Metres, this resulted in a run becoming available to the outside of that horse and inside VILLA FIONN, however, at this time he had already committed to improving inside SPEED FAY FAY. He said after initially racing tight inside SPEED FAY FAY, AMAZING NEWS was then disappointed for running passing the 200 Metres between that horse and COURAGEOUS KNIGHT (H Bentley) which shifted out away from the heels of BIG TWO. He said he did give consideration to steadying his mount and coming to the outside of SPEED FAY FAY, however, he believed that he would have had to give ground to do so and in the process lose momentum and therefore he continued to pursue the running between SPEED FAY FAY and COURAGEOUS KNIGHT. He added that it was not until approaching the 100 Metres that AMAZING NEWS was able to obtain clear running. C Y Ho was told that his explanation was accepted. C L Chau was reprimanded and H Bentley advised to exercise more care regarding the shifts of their horses after the 300 Metres. AMAZING NEWS, V CHEVALIERS and CHATER PINS were sent for sampling.