07/01/2009  Happy Valley  Race 4

AMAZING ME began awkwardly, got its head up, bounded in the air and lost ground. CLASSIC REUNION bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, SPEEDY WARRIOR was steadied to avoid the heels of KAISER'S CHOIX (Z Purton) which shifted in when not properly clear. Z Purton was reprimanded and told to exercise greater care. After the 600 Metres, SPEEDY WARRIOR was crowded for room inside KOWLOON FIT which got its head on the side and hung in. After this, KOWLOON FIT continued to hang in. On straightening, KINGSTON WINNER was checked away from the heels of FRIENDSHIP, then shifted in to obtain clear running. At the 250 Metres, CLASSIC REUNION, which was commencing to close the race off and was experiencing difficulty obtaining clear running, was steadied and shifted to the outside of CLASSA SUPREME to continue going forward. After the 200 Metres, when CLASSIC REUNION continued to shift out, some inconvenience was caused to MULTI MILLIONS which became unbalanced and lost ground. At about the 30 Metres, after initially being carried in by QUALITY-QUALITY, SPEEDY WARRIOR got its head on the side, shifted in further away from that horse and was then steadied away from the heels of KAISER'S CHOIX. Also at the 30 Metres, FRIENDSHIP, which was commencing to give ground, was steadied away from the heels of CLASSIC REUNION which shifted in when barely clear. Throughout the race, KOWLOON FIT travelled wide and without cover. M Du Plessis (FLORAL IMAGE) explained on straightening he endeavoured to shift his mount away from the rail from behind BOBO WIN in an attempt to obtain clear running, however, FLORAL IMAGE got its head on the side and proved difficult for him to shift out into clear running which was available. He said as a consequence KINGSTON WINNER was able to improve into the available run which then resulted in FLORAL IMAGE having difficulty obtaining clear running for the remainder of the race and as such he was not able to properly test his mount. The explanation of M Du Plessis was accepted. When questioned regarding the poor performance of CLASSA SUPREME, H W Lai said he was required to make use of his mount in the first 400 Metres of tonight's race to obtain the lead. He said after BOBO WIN, which had been racing to his outside in the early stages, was steadied to take a trail, CLASSA SUPREME did not relax in the run and as a consequence did not close the race off. He said CLASSA SUPREME has performed best when able to obtain a comfortable lead and run the race to suit itself. MULTI MILLIONS and CLASSA SUPREME were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of MULTI MILLIONS and CLASSA SUPREME after the race did not show any significant findings. SPEEDY WARRIOR, KAISER'S CHOIX and QUALITY-QUALITY were sent for sampling. After riding in this race, K T Yeung (CLASSIC REUNION) said the discomfort in his left foot from the barrier incident prior to the running of Race 3 had worsened. K T Yeung was examined by the Club's doctor who said in his opinion he was not suitable to ride and as such he was not fit to fulfil his remaining riding engagements.