28/06/2023  Happy Valley  Race 5

After being loaded into the barriers, CORDYCEPS ONE became fractious and broke through the front gate, striking its head. Acting on veterinary advice that CORDYCEPS ONE was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, CORDYCEPS ONE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. M UNICORN jumped awkwardly. STURDY RUBY was slow to begin and then was crowded for room between BABY and HAPPY FOR ALL which shifted in. Near the 1300 Metres, GOLD TACK was steadied to avoid the heels of NICE BIRDIE which shifted in and away from M UNICORN. Near the 250 Metres, TURQUOISE ALPHA was tightened after improving to the inside of GOLD TACK (A Badel) when that runner shifted in before being corrected. A Badel was advised in similar circumstances he must stop riding and make more effort to straighten his mount than what he did on this occasion. Near the 150 Metres, STURDY RUBY (H Bowman) shifted to the outside of NICE BIRDIE where there was doubtful room, resulting in STURDY RUBY making contact with DAZZLING FELLOW for some distance and taking that runner out. After STURDY RUBY obtained clear running to the outside of NICE BIRDIE, DAZZLING FELLOW was then crowded for room between STURDY RUBY and M UNICORN when M UNICORN was taken in by TURQUOISE ALPHA (Apprentice Y L Chung), which after being taken in by GOLD TACK then shifted in further. As a result, M UNICORN was buffeted when crowded for room and DAZZLING FELLOW became unbalanced after making contact with both STURDY RUBY and M UNICORN. After considering all the circumstances, the Stewards issued H Bowman with a severe reprimand, Apprentice Chung with a reprimand and advised A Badel in similar circumstances he would be expected to stop riding and straighten sooner than he did on this occasion. After the race, K C Leung (PACKING SUCCEEDER) stated that after being held up on the Home Turn, he shifted to the outside of DAZZLING FELLOW to obtain clear running. He said on straightening he elected to obtain a run between BABY and M UNICORN, but when M UNICORN held its position tight to the outside of BABY, he became held up behind those two runners and did not obtain clear running until near the 250 Metres. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY FOR ALL, HELENE WISDOM STAR and BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TURQUOISE ALPHA and GOLD TACK were sent for sampling.