14/06/2025  Shatin  Race 5

WINNING DATA (H230): Apprentice E C W Wong pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 800 Metres (see SIGHT DREAMER). Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. DEVAS TWELVE (H435): No report. REZEKI (J340): From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. MIGHTY STEED (J384): No report. TRULY FLUKE (K270): Sent for sampling post-race. DREAMING WINNER (K046): No report. LEADING ARTICLE (K071): Leaving the 900 Metres was eased when reluctant to hold its position between REZEKI and DREAMING WINNER which shifted in slightly. The performance of LEADING ARTICLE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LEADING ARTICLE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. STAR BROSE (J463): Bounded on jumping and lost ground. BULL ATTITUDE (K305): Bumped at the start. When questioned L Hewitson stated that his instructions were from the outside barrier to take up a forward position. He said after commencing well he observed a number of runners to his inside show intent to go forward and when he was of the opinion his mount would not have enough pace to cross runners to his inside, he elected to come back to obtain a position with cover behind the leaders. He said as he did so DREAMING WINNER also commenced to come back in an attempt to also find cover and as a result he had to steady his mount further to avoid racing wide which resulted in BULL ATTITUDE racing further back than he had intended. When questioned regarding his riding in the Home Straight and as to whether there was an opportunity to shift to the outside of REZEKI near the 300 Metres L Hewitson stated that this was his initial intention but as he was of the view he was not clear of DREAMING WINNER to shift out he remained racing behind SIGHT DREAMER for some distance. He said when SIGHT DREAMER was then taken wider by WINNING DATA he then elected to shift to the inside of SIGHT DREAMER to follow SPECIAL HEDGE, but over the final 100 Metres he could not fully test his mount when SPECIAL HEDGE did not improve into the race as he had expected. After considering his explanation the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Hewitson were reasonable in the circumstances. Trainer M Newnham confirmed the instructions issued. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ROMAN CROWN (J456): From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When questioned B Avdulla stated that his mount raced keenly in the early and middle stages and made contact with the running rail near the 900 Metres. He added from the 600 Metres ROMAN CROWN then improved to the inside of GROOVY FEELING despite his efforts to endeavour to remain racing behind that runner which resulted in ROMAN CROWN then being checked for some distance approaching the 400 Metres when awkwardly placed inside GROOVY FEELING. He said after entering the Home Straight he was unable to ride his mount out between the 400 Metres and the 250 Metres when held up behind HE WAS ME. He further added that once he obtained clear running to the outside of HE WAS ME leaving the 250 Metres ROMAN CROWN finished the race off well. Sent for sampling post-race. GROOVY FEELING (J515): Jumped awkwardly, made contact with the right side of its barrier and shortly after was then bumped by HE WAS ME. SPECIAL HEDGE (H354): After the event M F Poon stated that with his mount dropping back from 1600 Metres to 1400 Metres today it did not travel strongly throughout the event. He added in the Home Straight his mount finished the race off in a one-paced manner. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer”. Sent for sampling post-race. HE WAS ME (J535): Bumped on jumping. SIGHT DREAMER (J542): Apprentice E C W Wong (WINNING DATA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 800 Metres he allowed his mount to shift in when not clear of SIGHT DREAMER, resulting in SIGHT DREAMER having to be checked to avoid WINNING DATA. Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 22 June 2025 and to expire on Thursday, 26 June 2025 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Apprentice Wong was fined $15,000. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his neutral race riding record. Leaving the 300 Metres was steadied to avoid WINNING DATA (Apprentice E C W Wong) which shifted out. Apprentice Wong was advised to exercise more care. After the event A Badel stated that when his mount struck interference near the 800 Metres it raced keenly for some distance thereafter. He added that SIGHT DREAMER was also obliged to race three wide with cover and did not finish the race off in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.