Recap by phillip woo

Popular second pick, El Zonda travelled fourth from the rear along the inside, swept to the lead two-to-three deep at the 150m and held off the late surge of favourite Charles The Great for the win with a return to Happy Valley off some solid form at Sha Tin this season. He was also suited by the fast pace. Charles The Great settled fourth along the fence, cornered in four deep and stayed on well to make it close at the finish. Late-market mover Tally Close was switched off at the rear from a wide gate, rallied five wide upon straightening and finished up nicely to be a clear third with late-market action. He's definitely better nowadays at the Valley. London China Town sat on the back of the speed in third and one off the fence, briefly hit the front four deep at the 200m and came up flat inside the last 100m. Rich Unicorn settled second from the rear along the inside, came one off upon straightening and made some progress late without menacing with the switch to Happy Valley. Go Baby Go led early on before settling second in the run behind the outright leader Arrived Ahead at the 1,000m, straightened three deep and gave way over the final 200m. He'll need a return to his preferred minimum trip at Sha Tin. Arrived Ahead rushed forward to lead at the 1,000m, built a three-length advantage at the 400m and was stopping 150m out. He's on his mark and will need rating relief. Flying Colours settled second from the rear, peeled widest out upon straightening and failed to let down.

Racing Incident Report

Race Five: (255) - THE HAPPY VALLEY TROPHY (HANDICAP) - Class 1 - 1200 Meters On arrival at the barriers, the tongue tie carried by TALLEY CLOSE was replaced.

FINAL ANSWER began awkwardly.

From outside barriers, TALLEY CLOSE and FLYING COLOURS were taken across behind runners shortly after the start.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, ARRIVED AHEAD shifted out and bumped FINAL ANSWER.

After the 900 Metres, FINAL ANSWER got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of LONDON CHINA TOWN.

For some distance after the 500 Metres, CHARLES THE GREAT and FINAL ANSWER raced tight as CHARLES THE GREAT shifted away from the rail.

Passing the 200 Metres, GO BABY GO shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of TALLEY CLOSE.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ARRIVED AHEAD, T H So stated that ARRIVED AHEAD was able to obtain a forward position without any use having to be made of the horse in the early stages.

He said however that after shifting in to race outside GO BABY GO approaching the 800 Metres, he had to ride ARRIVED AHEAD along to clear that runner as he had been instructed to lead on ARRIVED AHEAD if possible.

He said whilst this resulted in ARRIVED AHEAD racing marginally quicker in the lead than he had hoped, nonetheless ARRIVED AHEAD was disappointing in that it came under pressure in the early part of the Straight and then did not respond to his riding at any stage thereafter.

He added that he had been riding ARRIVED AHEAD in the lead up to tonight's race and, in his opinion, this work had been satisfactory.

He said whilst ARRIVED AHEAD had been racing in stronger races of late, nonetheless the horse had been disappointing in those races and was again disappointing tonight.

A veterinary inspection of ARRIVED AHEAD after the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of FINAL ANSWER after the race did not show any significant findings.

EL ZONDA and CHARLES THE GREAT were sent for sampling.