30/10/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

COMMANDING MISSILE, which was fractious when being transported to Happy Valley, was found to have sustained minor abrasions to the right hock and left front leg. COMMANDING MISSILE was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. SUNNY AND GOLD, which made contact with a rail on entering the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the Start and passed suitable to race. MEGA BONUS shifted out on jumping and brushed the hindquarters of SUNNY AND GOLD. AMAZING INNOVATOR shifted out at the start and was steadied away from the heels of COMPASSION SUPER. After travelling a short distance, COMMANDING MISSILE became unbalanced after shifting out towards the heels of WIND SPEEDER. From wide barriers, TRIUMPHANT RETURN, SIGHT HERO and UNIVERSAL CROWN were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 600 Metres, SIGHT HERO lay in away from the heels of COMMANDING MISSILE, resulting in SIGHT HERO racing tight outside TRIUMPHANT RETURN. Then making the turn after the 600 Metres, SIGHT HERO was hampered when crowded for room between HARDLY SWEARS and TRIUMPHANT RETURN which made the turn awkwardly. STRIVE FOR GLORY, which was following SIGHT HERO, was inconvenienced in consequence. COMMANDING MISSILE also made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly. In the early part of the Straight, AMAZING INNOVATOR and COMMANDING MISSILE both lay in under pressure. Close to the finishing line, AMAZING INNOVATOR raced tight inside COMMANDING MISSILE which itself was racing tight inside the heels of HARDLY SWEARS. Because of this, AMAZING INNOVATOR was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Throughout the race, WIND SPEEDER travelled wide and without cover. After passing the winning post, TRIUMPHANT RETURN was checked away from the heels of SPEEDY FORTUNE (A Badel) which shifted in marginally. A Badel was told that whilst this incident occurred primarily after the winning post, nonetheless he must make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. When questioned, M F Poon stated that, from barrier 10, it was felt that STRIVE FOR GLORY would not have sufficient speed to be able to cross the anticipated leaders of the race in MEGA BONUS and COMPASSION SUPER. He said it was therefore felt that if STRIVE FOR GLORY were to be ridden along to obtain a forward position, the horse would be left racing wide and without cover which would not allow the horse with the best opportunity to finish the race off. He said he was therefore asked to have STRIVE FOR GLORY in about a midfield position if the horse began well, however, if STRIVE FOR GLORY did not begin on terms with the field, he should shift his mount across behind runners. He said STRIVE FOR GLORY began well and when a number of horses which were drawn better than STRIVE FOR GLORY were ridden along to obtain forward positions, he felt that he would have had to ride his mount along in the early stages to clear those runners and given the amount of speed being shown by COMPASSION SUPER, MEGA BONUS and SUNNY AND GOLD shortly after the start, he believed that STRIVE FOR GLORY would have been required to race wide and without cover. He said he therefore commenced to steady his mount shortly after the start with a view to obtaining cover in about midfield. He said when HARDLY SWEARS was steadied by its rider to obtain a trailing position behind WIND SPEEDER, this resulted in STRIVE FOR GLORY racing very wide and without cover making the turn after the 1000 Metres. He said he therefore he steadied his mount further for some distance along the Back Straight to obtain a trailing position behind HARDLY SWEARS. He said the circumstances of the race together with the race being run at a good tempo in the early stages resulted in STRIVE FOR GLORY having to race towards the rear of the field today. Mr W Y So, trainer of STRIVE FOR GLORY, confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Poon. He said he was concerned that STRIVE FOR GLORY would not have sufficient speed to clear MEGA BONUS and COMPASSION SUPER which he anticipated would race in forward positions. He said with today’s race being run on the "C” course and given the horse’s wide barrier and the make-up of the field, he was concerned that STRIVE FOR GLORY would not be able to obtain cover and therefore he believed that it was in the best interests of the horse to attempt to obtain a position behind midfield if possible. He further added that STRIVE FOR GLORY had previously raced well when ridden from off the speed. After the race, M L Yeung stated that after being ridden positively in the early stages to obtain a forward position, COMPASSION SUPER travelled too keenly carrying the blinkers for the first time today. He said COMPASSION SUPER would not relax in the middle stages when racing outside MEGA BONUS and because of this was then not able to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of COMPASSION SUPER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MEGA BONUS and SUNNY AND GOLD were sent for sampling.