17/01/2018  Happy Valley  Race 8

VICTORY MACHINE was withdrawn on 16.1.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetence) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PRINCE HARMONY. Before being allowed to race again, VICTORY MACHINE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. U Rispoli (FLYING TOURBILLON) was fined $2,000 for failing to initially weigh out with a girth. STAR OF JOY began only fairly. HAPPY BAO BEI shifted out at the start and bumped CHARITY GLORY. GOOD COMPANION began awkwardly and bumped EXTREMELY FUN on jumping, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. From the outside barriers, SMART BOY and HAPPY SURVEYS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, CHARITY GLORY was checked when crowded for room between HAPPY BAO BEI which was racing tight inside EXTREMELY FUN which got its head on the side and lay in from PRINCE HARMONY and STAR OF JOY which shifted out abruptly when proving very difficult to settle. SMART BOY, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. When being steadied to allow WHO ELSE BUT YOU to cross, CHEERFULJET travelled keenly near the 900 Metres. After being crossed by WHO ELSE BUT YOU, CHEERFULJET commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of that horse near the 850 Metres. Passing the 700 Metres, STAR OF JOY commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of FLYING TOURBILLON. For some distance after this, STAR OF JOY continued to prove very difficult to settle. CHARITY GLORY, which was following, was checked away from the heels of STAR OF JOY near the 650 Metres. BLAZE STAMINA, which was racing to the inside of STAR OF JOY, was also hampered after being bumped on the hindquarters by STAR OF JOY. D Whyte (PRINCE HARMONY) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 250 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of CHEERFULJET, causing that horse to be unnecessary crowded for room between PRINCE HARMONY and WHO ELSE BUT YOU and ultimately resulting in CHEERFULJET losing its rightful running passing the 200 Metres. D Whyte was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 7 February 2018 and to expire on Sunday, 11 February 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Whyte’s good race riding record. Throughout the race, EXTREMELY FUN travelled wide and without cover. CHEERFULJET, FLYING TOURBILLON and SMART BOY were sent for sampling. <18/1/2018 Additional Veterinary Report>The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that BLAZE STAMINA was lame in its left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, BLAZE STAMINA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.