18/03/2018  Shatin  Race 3

BOOMING DELIGHT was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame both front legs). Before being allowed to race again, BOOMING DELIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BEAUTY ONLY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Over the concluding stages, SOUTHERN LEGEND shifted out under pressure. The Stewards questioned J Moreira regarding his riding out of PAKISTAN STAR, 4th placegetter, over the concluding stages. J Moreira stated that as PAKISTAN STAR was not responding to his riding with the whip, he put it away passing the 50 Metres and then commenced to push his mount out hands and heels to the end of the race. He said whilst he continued to ride the horse out, JOYFUL TRINITY had established a margin over PAKISTAN STAR and PAKISTAN STAR was unable to make any further ground on JOYFUL TRINITY over the concluding stages. Having regard to the head margin between JOYFUL TRINITY and PAKISTAN STAR at the finish of the race and the manner in which both horses were finishing off the race, the Stewards were satisfied that J Moreira’s riding of PAKISTAN STAR over the concluding stages did not affect the horse’s final placing. Nonetheless, he was severely reprimanded and told he must ride his mounts out vigorously all the way to the end of the race where circumstances permit to ensure that his riding out of horses is not open to question. PAKISTAN STAR, SOUTHERN LEGEND and PINGWU SPARK were sent for sampling.