11/01/2023  Happy Valley  Race 5

SOLAR PARTNER was slow to begin. HAPPY FAT CAT shifted out at the start and bumped SHADOW RUNNER. HAR HAR AT HEART shifted out on jumping and inconvenienced LYRICAL MOTION. MOMENTUM GALAXY began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped INSPIRING CITY which became unbalanced. After this, INSPIRING CITY shifted out and hampered MOMENTUM GALAXY which was taken out and inconvenienced BLUSTITCH. After this, from the outside barriers, MOMENTUM GALAXY and BLUSTITCH were shifted across behind runners. Passing the 1000 Metres, WOOD ON FIRE commenced to travel keenly and proved difficult to settle. Then passing the 900 Metres, WOOD ON FIRE continued to over-race and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of HAPPY FAT CAT when that runner was being steadied to maintain its position outside of FLYING BONUS. Near the 850 Metres, WOOD ON FIRE, which was continuing to prove difficult to settle, was checked away from the heels of HAPPY FAT CAT and lost ground abruptly, resulting in SHADOW RUNNER, which was following WOOD ON FIRE, being checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence and shifting in to avoid the heels of WOOD ON FIRE which resulted in SHADOW RUNNER shifting across the running of SOLAR PARTNER which was checked. MOMENTUM GALAXY, which was following SOLAR PARTNER, was hampered and shifted out away from behind that horse in consequence. Whilst this incident was one of some significance with a number of runners being badly hampered, the Stewards were of the opinion that the racing manners of WOOD ON FIRE was the principal reason for the incident rather than an abrupt steadying of the tempo from either HAPPY FAT CAT or FLYING BONUS, therefore no further action was taken. Making the turn near the 950 Metres, HAPPY SOUL shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of INSPIRING CITY, resulting in INSPIRING CITY becoming unbalanced and HAPPY SOUL shifting in towards the heels of SHADOW RUNNER. HAR HAR AT HEART raced wide and without cover until approaching the 700 Metres at which time INSPIRING CITY was left racing wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, MOMENTUM GALAXY was steadied away from the heels of SHADOW RUNNER when held up for clear running behind that horse. After the 300 Metres, HAPPY FAT CAT shifted in and brushed HAR HAR AT HEART. Also after the 300 Metres, SHADOW RUNNER was shifted out away from the heels of FLYING BONUS and in doing so improved into tight running between that horse and CIRCUIT TEN. When being shifted out, SHADOW RUNNER bumped the hindquarters of CIRCUIT TEN which at this time was also bumped by HAR HAR AT HEART which, when giving ground, momentarily raced in restricted room between CIRCUIT TEN and HAPPY FAT CAT. Over the concluding stages, SOLAR PARTNER and LYRICAL MOTION bumped as both horses raced tight. When questioned regarding his riding of HAPPY FAT CAT, A Hamelin stated that he was instructed to ride his mount positively and obtain a forward position. He said it was anticipated that FLYING BONUS would be ridden to lead the race, however, if that horse for any reason was not able to lead, then he should obtain the lead on HAPPY FAT CAT as the horse had raced successfully at its last start when ridden in this manner. He said however if FLYING BONUS was able to lead the race as anticipated, then he should obtain a position either outside that horse or behind FLYING BONUS with cover if FLYING BONUS showed sufficient early speed. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode HAPPY FAT CAT positively and was able to shift across to race outside FLYING BONUS which was being hard ridden to maintain the lead approaching and passing the 1100 Metres. He said as it was not available to him to lead tonight’s race and as the race was being run at a good tempo making the turn near the 1000 Metres, he attempted to see if it was available to obtain cover behind FLYING BONUS as FLYING BONUS and HAPPY FAT CAT had opened up something of a margin over the remainder of the field. He said as he did this FLYING BONUS was steadied by its rider and therefore he remained racing to the outside of that horse. He said passing the 900 Metres he considered improving forward of FLYING BONUS, however, when HAR HAR AT HEART improved around HAPPY FAT CAT, he elected to allow that horse to cross and obtain cover behind that horse after the 800 Metres. Mr P C Ng, trainer of HAPPY FAT CAT, confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Hamelin tonight. He said he was concerned that FLYING BONUS, a noted leader in its races and which was more favourably drawn than HAPPY FAT CAT, would show early speed and therefore if HAPPY FAT CAT were aggressively ridden to try and lead the race, the horse would then not able to finish the race off if FLYING BONUS was able to obtain and then maintain a forward position. He added given the fact that FLYING BONUS was aggressively ridden in the early stages to lead, he was satisfied with Jockey Hamelin’s riding of HAPPY FAT CAT which he said was in accordance with his instructions. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY FAT CAT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on HAPPY SOUL at the request of Trainer C S Shum. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY SOUL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SOLAR PARTNER, HAPPY SOUL and CIRCUIT TEN were sent for sampling.