Recap by phillip woo

Raging favourite Mighty Giant took command 60m after being hustled to hold a position in a prominent spot to ring up a fourth win from seven starts. Smoothies found one too good after getting his own way in front lead from gate 12. He relished a return to Sha Tin with the claim well utilised. Monster Kaka ran on well down the outside after making his run second last from a wide gate to snatch a placing. Juneau Park just failed to get up for a placing after making his run behind midfield and one off the fence. He found a few too smart on this occasion after winning back-to-back in Class Four. Beauty Icon made good ground late from the rear of the field. He appears from his past four starts to be heading in the right direction now. Pure Legend was making noticeable ground from near last. He's made steady progress in his three starts and was suited by the rise in trip. Triple Triple was a non-factor after a wide run without cover fore of midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (592) - DORSET HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1400Meters

HIGHLAND FORTUNE kicked out just prior to the start being effected and consequently began only fairly.

HIGHLAND FORTUNE and KUNGFUMASTER PANDA were then crowded for room on jumping between JUNEAU PARK and TRIPLE TRIPLE which shifted in.

From wide barriers, PURE LEGEND and MONSTER KAKA were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

A short distance after the start, GOOD BEAUTY received contact from MIGHTY GIANT which was bumped by SONIC FIGHTER which shifted in after stumbling at the start.

After this, both GOOD BEAUTY and MIGHTY GIANT were hard ridden to obtain a forward position, however, both horses were slow to muster speed.

Due to GOOD BEAUTY and MIGHTY GIANT being ridden along in the early stages, SONIC FIGHTER was left racing very wide after the 1300 Metres and was then steadied for some distance to obtain a position with cover closer to the rail.

After the 1100 Metres, TRIPLE TRIPLE was left racing wide and without cover.

Near the 500 Metres, MONSTER KAKA was taken wider as that horse improved to be racing outside the heels of SONIC FIGHTER which at this time was taken wider by JUNEAU PARK (J Moreira) which shifted out to obtain clear running.

J Moreira was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances.

Also near the 500 Metres, GOOD BEAUTY was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of TRIPLE TRIPLE which shifted in marginally before being directed back out.

Near the 400 Metres, BEAUTY ICON shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of SONIC FIGHTER.

Near the 350 Metres, KUNGFUMASTER PANDA raced tight inside LIGHT MY DAY which shifted in before being directed back out.

Approaching the 200 Metres, BEAUTY ICON had difficulty obtaining clear running and after the 200 Metres shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of MONSTER KAKA when improving into tight running between that horse and JUNEAU PARK.

MONSTER KAKA then became unbalanced and shifted in, resulting in BEAUTY ICON racing in restricted room between MONSTER KAKA and JUNEAU PARK.

MONSTER KAKA and BEAUTY ICON again bumped near the 150 Metres.

When questioned, K C Leung (BEAUTY ICON) stated that, from a wide barrier, he was instructed to obtain a midfield position with cover if possible.

He said it was explained to him that when ridden in a handy position last start, the horse travelled too keenly and because of this was disappointing over the concluding stages.

He said in accordance with his instructions he began positively on BEAUTY ICON and commenced to shift across with runners to his inside in the early stages.

He said due to the field being bunched approaching the 1200 Metres, he steadied his mount when racing wide to obtain a position closer to the rail.

He said when he did this BEAUTY ICON initially got its head up and travelled keenly.

He said that after the 1200 Metres he was able to commence shifting BEAUTY ICON across closer to the rail, however, the horse continued to travel somewhat keenly.

He said after the 1000 Metres MONSTER KAKA was racing in a three wide position behind SONIC FIGHTER and as he anticipated that that horse would maintain a three wide position, he further steadied BEAUTY ICON to race behind that horse.

He said as he did this MONSTER KA KA then shifted in to race in a one-off position, however, when this occurred he had already committed to shift to the inside of that horse.

He said after following JUNEAU PARK in the early part of the Straight he shifted to that horse's outside near the 200 Metres.

He added after obtaining clear running BEAUTY ICON then finished off the race well.

A veterinary inspection of GOOD BEAUTY, THUNDER STOMP and LIGHT MY DAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

MIGHTY GIANT and SMOOTHIES were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

15 April 2020 Happy Valley Racemeeting a.

Race 3 (576) A Hamelin (LASTING FRIENDSHIP) was warned against the practice of raising his whip arm above the height of his shoulder.

b.

Race 8 (581) The Stewards today interviewed Trainer J Moore regarding the instructions he provided to C Schofield on how G UNIT should be ridden in this race.

Mr Moore explained that he was of the opinion that G UNIT had difficulty in seeing out 1200 Metres at this stage of its career.

He said at its last start over 1000 Metres when ridden in a forward position G UNIT was left racing wide and did not finish off the race strongly.

He said he felt that even though G UNIT was up in distance in this race, he was concerned that the horse may again be left racing wide and possibly without cover due to the makeup of the field and the horse beginning from barrier

7.

He said for all these reasons he instructed C Schofield to steady his mount in the early stages and obtain a position in about midfield with cover if possible.

He said G UNIT had to be steadied after the 1100 Metres to obtain cover behind WINNING METHOD one horse off the rail and this resulted in G UNIT being slightly further back in the field than had been hoped, however, he was happy with the position that G UNIT was able to obtain in the early stages.

He added, whenever possible, it would be his intention to obtain cover with G UNIT as he is of the view that the horse races best when ridden in this manner, however, depending on the circumstances of the race when the horse draws better than it did on this occasion, this may result in G UNIT being more prominently positioned than in this race.

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Happy Valley Racemeeting on 15 April 2020 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of VIRTUS STAR, HUMBLE STEED, NITRO EXPRESS, V CHEVALIERS, COMPASSION SPIRIT, YEE CHEONG PEGASUS, TRIUMPHANT HORSE, LASTING FRIENDSHIP, TUNG WAH GLORY, HAPPY GOOD GUYS, SKY TREASURE, THE RUNNER, SUPER WINNER, CALIFORNIA RAD, SUPER LUCKY, BEAUTY SPARK, CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT, ALPHA HEDGE, SUNSHINE WARRIOR, MAGNIFICENT, VICTORY POWER, ISLAND SHINE, WINNING METHOD, DANCES WITH DRAGON and ENRICHMENT revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of SHADOW BREAKER, EVERYONE'S ELITE, CHARITY GRAND, FOCUS, ELECTRIC LIGHTNING, GOOD SHOT, SUPER ALLIANCES, SIMPLY FLUKE, TRAVEL DATUK, DIAMOND BRILLIANT, YOUNG LEGEND, PING HAI GALAXY, LARSON, BE READY, HOLY HEART, BEAR AGAIN, FLASH FAMOUS, STRONGER, THIS IS CLASS and LOVING A BOOM (8.4.20) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 3: TRAVEL FIRST on 18.4.20 on veterinary advice.

Race 6: EURO LAGO at barriers on veterinary advice.

2.

Reprimand Race 5: C Schofield (SUPER POWER MAN) for shifting in in the early stages.

3.

Warnings Race 2: J Moreira (DEFINING MOMENT) for shifting in after the 1500 Metres.

Race 10: J Moreira (JUNEAU PARK) for shifting out near the 500 Metres.

General: A Hamelin (LASTING FRIENDSHIP) for raising his whip arm above the height of his shoulder.

4.

Bleeder Race 8: HAPPY FAMILY

5.

Barrier Trials Race 2: FULL POWER Race 4: YOUNG THUNDER SHANGHAI GRACE PRECISE EXPRESS Race 6: EURO LAGO

6.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: FULL POWER Race 3: TRAVEL FIRST Race 4: YOUNG THUNDER SHANGHAI GRACE PRECISE EXPRESS Race 6: EURO LAGO ERIN CENTENARY