23/03/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

SUN OF MAKFI began only fairly and then shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of FOXHUNTER WAY which became unbalanced. OUR CLASS ACT shifted out at the start and bumped RED IMPACT. OUR CLASS ACT and RED IMPACT were then hampered a short distance after the start when PRIDE OF DRAGON was taken out by GREEN LASER. After this, both RED IMPACT and OUR CLASS ACT were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, RED IMPACT commenced to travel very keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of GREEN LASER. In the early part of the Straight, ISLAND SHINE lay in under pressure and after the 300 Metres shifted in and bumped RED IMPACT. RED IMPACT then continued to race tight inside ISLAND SHINE as that horse also continued to lay in. This resulted in K C Leung, the rider of ISLAND SHINE, having to stop riding and straighten his mount near the 200 Metres at which time he momentarily lost the use of his whip before regathering it after the 200 Metres. Passing the 300 Metres, SUN OF MAKFI was shifted to the inside of EVER LAUGH in an attempt to improve into tight running between that horse and BABY. As SUN OF MAKFI was being directed in, EVER LAUGH shifted in, resulting in SUN OF MAKFI being very awkwardly placed behind EVER LAUGH when held up for clear running behind that horse until near the 200 Metres. When shifting in away from the heels of EVER LAUGH, SUN OF MAKFI bumped BABY passing the 250 Metres. As the Stewards were satisfied that SUN OF MAKFI had not established running to the inside of EVER LAUGH at the relevant time, no further action was taken. When questioned regarding the improved performance of JADE PHOENIX, Trainer F C Lor stated that the horse had been disappointing in its recent starts at Sha Tin. He said after its most recent run the jockey had expressed concern regarding JADE PHOENIX’s action, however, veterinary examinations conducted on the horse after the race did not reveal any obvious abnormalities. He said given that JADE PHOENIX had been racing disappointingly at Sha Tin, he elected to switch the horse to Happy Valley in the hope of finding a race which may not be as strong as those the horse had recently been racing in. He added that as tonight’s race was over 1650 Metres, he elected to remove the blinkers and added sheepskin cheek pieces to JADE PHOENIX which he hoped would allow the horse to settle in order to get the distance. He said he was of the view that JADE PHOENIX may have been suited by having an uncontested lead and also by the track having some give due to the prevailing weather conditions. A veterinary inspection of RED IMPACT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPY JAI JAI, JADE PHOENIX and SUN OF MAKFI were sent for sampling.