08/01/2025  Happy Valley  Race 5

MEGA BONUS (E184): When giving ground near the 100 Metres the whip of K C Leung became entangled when racing tight to the outside of ICONICAL. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CIRCUIT DUFFY (J501): Shifted out at the start and was bumped. Sent for sampling post-race. ONE FOR ALL (G012): Bumped at the start. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPY PARK (J311): Raced wide and without cover from the 700 Metres. Over the concluding stages could not be ridden out when crowded between TALENTS SUPREMO and KA YING POWER (C L Chau) which shifted in. C L Chau was reprimanded. HAPPY SOUL (G249): Jumped only fairly, then shifted out and made contact with TALENTS SUPREMO. Sent for sampling post-race. ICONICAL (J504): On jumping was crowded between ONE FOR ALL and CIRCUIT DUFFY which shifted out. For some distance after the 300 Metres was held up for clear running behind LUCKY PLANET which shifted out slightly. LA MOMENTO (J476): Raced wide and without cover until near the 700 Metres when ridden forward to cross MEGA BONUS. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SPIRIT OF PEACE (K007): When questioned regarding his riding in the Home Straight, Z Purton stated that he was of the opinion that LAKESHORE HERO was under pressure and for this reason he endeavoured to shift that runner out to obtain clear running to the outside of CIRCUIT DUFFY. He said prior to commencing this move he was of the opinion that there was not clear running available between ONE FOR ALL and CIRCUIT DUFFY and this was his only option to obtain clear running when he made such decision. As a consequence SPIRIT OF PEACE made contact with LAKESHORE HERO on a number of occasions and was badly held up behind CIRCUIT DUFFY for some distance after the 200 Metres. The Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Purton were reasonable in the circumstances. Sent for sampling post-race. LAKESHORE HERO (J288): After the 200 Metres was bumped heavily by SPIRIT OF PEACE (Z Purton) when that runner endeavoured to obtain clear running to the outside of CIRCUIT DUFFY. As a result, LAKESHORE HERO became unbalanced. Z Purton was reprimanded and advised he should have desisted from attempting to obtain the run sooner than he did when LAKESHORE HERO held its ground. LUCKY PLANET (H235): In the early stages, when racing keenly, got its head up when being crossed by MEGA BONUS. Near the 300 Metres was steadied when disappointed for clear running between LA MOMENTO and MEGA BONUS. LUCKY PLANET was then shifted to the inside of LA MOMENTO where it secured clear running near the 250 Metres. After the 200 Metres LUCKY PLANET was eased and shifted to the inside of SPIRIT OF PEACE to continue into clear running. KA YING POWER (H169): From the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. TALENTS SUPREMO (H133): Bumped at the start. When questioned regarding his riding making the Home Turn and the reason he did not shift to the outside of HAPPY PARK to obtain clear running, K Teetan stated that from a wide barrier his instructions were to allow TALENTS SUPREMO to settle where comfortable and to take up a position behind midfield. He said he was also instructed to save the horse up for a run in the Home Straight over the final 250 Metres as TALENTS SUPREMO has a short sprint. He said making the Home Turn when following HAPPY PARK, TALENTS SUPREMO was travelling only fairly and for this reason he encouraged the horse to hold its position behind HAPPY PARK. He said as he did so TALENTS SUPREMO commenced to travel strongly and when HAPPY PARK shifted out slightly, this resulted in TALENTS SUPREMO improving to that runner’s inside and then being held up for clear running behind MEGA BONUS until approaching the 200 Metres. Trainer W K Mo confirmed the instructions issued and advised that TALENTS SUPREMO races best when ridden in this way. Mr Mo expressed satisfaction with the manner in which Jockey Teetan had ridden the horse on the Home Turn. After considering the evidence and the explanation provided by Jockey Teetan, the Stewards found that he had made an error of judgement on the Home Turn in not positioning his mount to the outside of HAPPY PARK which would have resulted in TALENTS SUPREMO obtaining clear running sooner than what it did on this occasion. However, the Stewards were satisfied, having regard to the instructions particularly, that it was not blameworthy in the circumstances.