20/04/2025  Shatin  Race 4

ETALON OR (J273): Bumped at the start. From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the event Trainer P F Yiu confirmed the instructions were to ride the horse in a conservative manner in the early stages. Near the 400 Metres had some difficulty obtaining clear running when being shifted to the outside of SILVER UP. Sent for sampling post-race. BEAUTY LIVE (G057): No report. HE WAS ME (J535): Near the 200 Metres was steadied when crowded between GALE SAGA and DRAGON SUNRISE which lay in. MISTER DAPPER (H376): When questioned B Avdulla stated that from the outside barrier his instructions were to hold an on-pace position. He said in the early stages he elected to remain racing wide so that he could assess if there was an opportunity to obtain a position in a three wide line with cover. He said near the 1100 Metres when there was no opportunity to obtain cover he continued forward on MISTER DAPPER and as a result was obliged to make further use of his mount making the first turn to cross BEAUTY LIVE to avoid racing wide. When questioned if there was an opportunity to remain racing to the outside of HE WAS ME rather than continuing forward of that runner, B Avdulla stated that as he was advised by Trainer D Eustace that MISTER DAPPER is one-paced, when HE WAS ME appeared to be under pressure he allowed MISTER DAPPER to continue to go forward and cross that runner to obtain a position on the rail so as to avoid holding his mount’s momentum. He added after crossing to the rail he continued to ride MISTER DAPPER along from the 500 Metres in order to encourage the horse to finish the race off strongly. Trainer Eustace confirmed the instructions issued and advised that having regard to the early stages of the event being run inside of standard time he felt that there was a brief opportunity for Jockey Avdulla to ride his mount with more patience from the 600 Metres. After considering all the evidence the Stewards advised Jockey Avdulla that, in their opinion, he had made an error of judgement from the 600 Metres in continuing to ride his mount forward having regard to the use he had to make of MISTER DAPPER throughout the early and middle stages to obtain his position outside the lead. BLUE BARON (J448): No report. BRIGHT INHERITANCE (J215): Slow to begin. Sent for sampling post-race. SILVER UP (J078): No report. FORTUNE BOY (K098): No report. RAGING RAPIDS (J228): After the event B Thompson stated that his mount was obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event and as a result was left without a finishing effort in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of RAGING RAPIDS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, RAGING RAPIDS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. THE AUSPICIOUS (K004): Approaching the 400 Metres was briefly held up behind DOUBLE WIN. J Orman was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 300 Metres he directed his mount in when insufficiently clear of THE AUSPICIOUS, resulting in THE AUSPICIOUS being crowded for room and being checked. J Orman was suspended from riding in races for one Hong Kong raceday to be conducted on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 at Happy Valley. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his very good race riding record. GALE SAGA (J152): Shortly after the start raced tight between SILVER UP and ETALON OR which shifted in. GALE SAGA was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. J Orman was found guilty of a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 300 Metres (see THE AUSPICIOUS). When questioned regarding his riding in the Home Straight J Orman stated that after following BRIGHT INHERITANCE into the event he was of the opinion that runner was not improving and would not take him into the race. He said for this reason near the 400 Metres he elected to shift to the outside of BRIGHT INHERITANCE in an attempt to secure clear running but soon after he did so HE WAS ME commenced to give ground and he was obliged to check to avoid that runner’s heels. He added as a result he then shifted to the inside of HE WAS ME to secure clear running but as he did so he was again obliged to check his mount as he endeavoured to prevent causing interference to THE AUSPICIOUS. He said after losing momentum at this point GALE SAGA did not finish the race off thereafter. Jockey Orman agreed with the Stewards that he had made an error of judgement in the early part of the Home Straight by shifting to the outside of BRIGHT INHERITANCE. DOUBLE WIN (H382): No report. DRAGON SUNRISE (J269): Between the 450 Metres and the 300 Metres was held up for clear running behind BLUE BARON. After being shifted to the inside of BLUE BARON, DRAGON SUNRISE then lay in and away from that runner near the 200 Metres, shifted in and made contact with HE WAS ME. HAPPY UNIVERSE (J533): Sent for sampling post-race.