20/11/2024  Happy Valley  Race 7

HELENE WARRIOR (J207): After the event, Apprentice E C W Wong reported that from a wide barrier he was obliged to make use of his mount in the early stages to lead. He said as a result HELENE WARRIOR was left without a finishing effort in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIMPLY MAVERICK (H346): Jumped awkwardly and from the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. APACHE PASS (D433): Shortly after the start was checked when crowded between SILO and LOVERO which shifted out. LOVERO (H451): The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they observed an incident had occurred approaching the 50 Metres when LOVERO was bumped and taken in by SUPER UNICORN (Z Purton) which placed doubt as to whether SUPER UNICORN should be declared the winner of the race. Subsequently Y L Chung, rider of LOVERO, second placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against SUPER UNICORN being declared the winner alleging interference over the concluding stages of the event. After considering the evidence, the Stewards found that near the 50 Metres SUPER UNICORN shifted in and made contact with LOVERO, taking that horse in and resulting in LOVERO losing momentum during that incident. As the Stewards were comfortably satisfied that had that interference not occurred LOVERO would have finished in advance of SUPER UNICORN, the protest/objection was sustained and the placings amended to read No. 4, LOVERO, 1st; No. 12, SUPER UNICORN, 2nd; No. 6, ROMANTIC LAOS, 3rd; and No. 8, I CAN, 4th. Z Purton was advised to exercise more care and that he would be expected to stop riding and straighten his mounts. When questioned regarding the improved performance, Trainer A S Cruz stated that the horse benefited from its first up performance on 11 September 2024 and had pleased him in a barrier trial at Conghua on 25 October 2024 and this was the principal reason for the horse’s improved performance tonight. Sent for sampling post-race. TOURBILLON PRINCE (H122): Near the 250 Metres was steadied to avoid ROMANTIC LAOS when that runner was taken out by I CAN (A Badel) which shifted out when not quite clear. A Badel was advised to exercise more care. Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. ROMANTIC LAOS (G476): Leaving the 1500 Metres was checked when crowded by SUPER UNICORN which, after shifting in despite the efforts of its rider Z Purton, then raced tight to the inside of SOLEIL FIGHTER (M F Poon) which shifted in. M F Poon was reprimanded. Approaching the 250 Metres was bumped and taken out by I CAN. SILO (J399): Shortly after the start was bumped on the hindquarters and became unbalanced. Approaching the 1500 Metres was steadied to obtain cover behind ROMANTIC LAOS when racing tight to the inside of SUPER UNICORN. I CAN (H381): For some distance near the 250 Metres was shifted out to obtain clear running and made contact with ROMANTIC LAOS. SOLEIL FIGHTER (J127): After the event, M F Poon stated that he was obliged to make use of his mount in the early stages to cross runners to his inside and as a result SOLEIL FIGHTER was left without a finishing effort in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TOY SOLTERO (J268): No report. SECOND TO NONE (H319): No report. SUPER UNICORN (H481): Shifted in near the 50 Metres and bumped with LOVERO. Relegated to second on protest/objection (see LOVERO). Sent for sampling post-race.