27/02/2008  Happy Valley  Race 6

MY LUCK was withdrawn on 26.2.08 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BOBO WIN (M Nunes). Before being allowed to race again, MY LUCK will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FANTUZZI was slow to begin. BOBO WIN began awkwardly and bumped MONEY MAN and as a consequence was slow to muster speed. Near the 1300 Metres, PERSEVERANCE became unbalanced when bumped by SUPER FIGHTER which shifted out while being steadied away from the heels of BOBO WIN. From the 1200 Metres until the 900 Metres, SUPER FIGHTER, which was racing keenly, was steadied when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BOBO WIN which itself when racing keenly was steadied away from the heels of DASHING THUNDER. At the 900 Metres, SUPER FIGHTER was shifted to the outside of BOBO WIN after that horse became unbalanced and blundered. At the 800 Metres, FANTUZZI became unbalanced when being steadied away from the heels of DIAMOND ERA. At the 700 Metres, KING HOGAN was steadied and shifted out away from the heels of DIAMOND ERA which at this time was steadied away from the heels of PERSEVERANCE. Near the 600 Metres, QUEST FOR LOVE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BOBO WIN. After the 50 Metres, FANTUZZI, which had been closing the race off fairly, was steadied away from the heels of QUEST FOR LOVE. Because of this, FANTUZZI was not ridden out to the end of the race. Close to the line, DIAMOND ERA was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of HAPPY CRUSADER. Because of this, DIAMOND ERA was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. In the Straight, HAPPY CRUSADER hung in. When questioned regarding the performance of MAINLAND SHUTTLE, G Mossé said his mount was not suited by the slow tempo of tonight's race when racing in a rearward position. He said as tonight was MAINLAND SHUTTLE's first start at Happy Valley, he was reluctant to improve his position around the field from the 600 Metres. He said when the tempo of the race quickened after the 600 Metres, MAINLAND SHUTTLE was left flat footed and then was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close the race off. When questioned regarding the improved performance of HAPPY CRUSADER, Mr Y S Tsui, trainer of the horse, said when drawn more favourably at its most recent two starts HAPPY CRUSADER had been ridden around midfield and had raced ungenerously. He said tonight from a wide barrier he instructed M W Leung to ride the horse quietly and then endeavour to improve around the field from the 600 Metres. He said tonight the slow tempo of the early and middle stages enabled HAPPY CRUSADER to quickly improve its position approaching the turn at the 600 Metres and in his opinion this accounted for the horse’s improved performance. QUEST FOR LOVE and MAINLAND SHUTTLE were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of QUEST FOR LOVE and MAINLAND SHUTTLE after the race did not show any significant findings. MONEY MAN, HAPPY CRUSADER and DASHING THUNDER were sent for sampling.