31/01/2025  Shatin  Race 8

PACKING HERMOD (J277): Bumped on jumping. Sent for sampling post-race. RUBYLOT (H412): No report. DIVANO (J142): When questioned, B Shinn stated that he was given no specific instructions as to where to settle his mount other than to find a position where DIVANO was comfortable. He said from the outside barrier when the pace in the early stages was run inside of standard time he elected to allow DIVANO to settle in a position behind midfield. He said when the pace of the race continued to be run inside of standard time he then positioned DIVANO behind JOHANNES BRAHMS but was of the opinion he would have had to make some use of his mount to hold a position behind that runner and for this reason he elected to allow DIVANO to settle at the rear of the field where it was comfortable. He added making the Home Turn he elected to improve to the inside of MICKLEY to save ground where he then encouraged his mount to improve into the event in the early part of the Home Straight. He said for some distance near the 300 Metres he was not able to fully test DIVANO as he was waiting for a run to fully develop between TOP GUN and CALL ME GLORIOUS. He said when that run developed near the 250 Metres he was able to place DIVANO under full pressure whereby his mount finished the race off well. Trainer K W Lui confirmed the instructions issued and expressed satisfaction with the manner in which DIVANO was ridden. After considering his explanation, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Shinn were reasonable in the circumstances. Sent for sampling post-race. CALL ME GLORIOUS (H410): On jumping shifted out and made contact with PACKING HERMOD. FAST NETWORK (J358): Near the 100 Metres was bumped by PACKING HERMOD which shifted out slightly. JOHANNES BRAHMS (K014): Near the 250 Metres M Barzalona dropped his whip. After the event, M Barzalona advised that after improving to the outside on straightening his mount failed to respond to his riding in the Home Straight and raced in a disappointing manner. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CAP FERRAT (K021): After the event, C Y Ho stated that his mount was disadvantaged by racing wide and without cover for the majority of the race and as a result finished the race off only fairly in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GLORY ELITE (H311): No report. MICKLEY (K082): From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. K C Leung (MARKWIN) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 350 Metres he directed his mount to the inside of CAP FERRAT where there was not sufficient room to do so, resulting in MARKWIN making heaving contact with MICKLEY between the 350 Metres and the 200 Metres and resulting in MICKLEY and MARKWIN becoming badly unbalanced between that distance as a result of the contact. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 5 March 2025 and to expire on Thursday, 13 March 2025 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 1 and also considered his very poor race riding record. LUCY IN THE SKY (J275): No report. MY WISH (J256): Sent for sampling post-race. TOP GUN (J249): In the early stages was shifted across behind runners. Near the 100 Metres was taken out slightly by LUCY IN THE SKY which shifted out slightly when giving ground. TALENTS AMBITION (J136): Jumped only fairly. MARKWIN (J420): Jumped only fairly. K C Leung (MARKWIN) was found guilty of a careless riding charge for causing interference between the 350 Metres and the 200 Metres (see MICKLEY). Between the 350 Metres and the 200 Metres was buffeted for room and held up for clear running when it endeavoured to improve between MICKLEY and CAP FERRAT when there was not sufficient room to do so. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, MARKWIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.