01/10/2025  Shatin  Race 8

HONG LOK GOLF (J517): Shortly after the start was crowded between STEPS AHEAD and HEALTHY HAPPY which shifted in whilst being corrected by its rider. Near the 650 Metres was steadied when unable to improve between STEPS AHEAD and HUGE WAVE which was improving around the field. TAJ DRAGON (H164): A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HEALTHY HAPPY (D435): Shifted in at the start and was bumped. Sent for sampling post-race. GUSTOSISIMO (J303): No report. STEPS AHEAD (J263): Shortly after the start bumped with HONG LOK GOLF. After being crossed by TOURBILLON PRINCE near the 1000 Metres commenced to race keenly and was steadied to avoid TOURBILLON PRINCE. Sent for sampling post-race. CHIU CHOW SPIRIT (H175): No report. WONDER KIT (G455): Jumped only fairly. Raced keenly when being crossed by GUSTOSISIMO leaving the 1000 Metres. Near the 650 Metres was steadied to avoid GUSTOSISIMO. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MICKLEY (K082): Approaching the 600 Metres commenced to race keenly and as a consequence was obliged to steady to avoid HONG LOK GOLF. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TOURBILLON PRINCE (H122): No report. HUGE WAVE (J197): A Badel was fined the sum of $5,000 for breaching Rule 100(3)(ii)(f) in that he used his whip in a manner where the hand holding the whip was above shoulder height on two occasions in the Home Straight. When questioned regarding his riding in the middle stages and the reason he made a forward move A Badel stated that after settling back in the field, when he felt the pace of the race eased, he then elected to allow his mount to stride forward near the 800 Metres to ensure that it was able to make up ground in the Home Straight. He added that after improving to the outside of STEPS AHEAD near the 650 Metres, that runner also commenced a forward move, resulting in HUGE WAVE being taken wider on the Home Turn but finished the race off reasonably well. After considering the sectional times of the event which showed that between the 1200 Metres and the 800 Metres the race was run outside of standard time, the Stewards found the tactics adopted were reasonable in the circumstances.