21/03/2018  Happy Valley  Race 1

HOLY UNICORN and WONDERFUL CHASER bumped at the start, resulting in HOLY UNICORN becoming unbalanced, shifting in and causing crowding to PEARL FURU and SAVANNAH WIND. From wide barriers, WEALTHY FORTUNE and HALL OF FAME were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When being steadied to obtain cover passing the 2100 Metres, SAVANNAH WIND got its head up on a number of occasions and proved difficult to settle. Near the 2000 Metres, HOLY UNICORN was checked away from the heels of SAVANNAH WIND and in doing so shifted in and raced tight outside WEALTHY FORTUNE. Passing the 1800 Metres, SUPERNATURAL got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CITY WINNER. SUPERNATURAL then got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of ROCK THE TREE. WEALTHY FORTUNE, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Passing the 1700 Metres, SUPERNATURAL, which continued to be very difficult to settle, again got its head up and shifted out abruptly away from the heels of CITY WINNER. WEALTHY FORTUNE, which was following and also proving difficult to settle, shifted out away from the heels of that horse in consequence and in doing so bumped SAVANNAH WIND. SAVANNAH WIND was then left racing three wide and without cover until passing the 700 Metres. Passing the 900 Metres, SAVANNAH WIND was shifted out away from SWEET BEAN which at this time shifted out to improve around the field. As SWEET BEAN was improving around LOADED, that horse shifted out from behind PEARL FURU and in doing so brushed the hindquarters of SWEET BEAN which became unbalanced. Passing the 700 Metres, GENTLEMEN was momentarily steadied away from the heels of SWEET BEAN (U Rispoli) which shifted in when not properly clear. U Rispoli was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Passing the 600 Metres, WEALTHY FORTUNE and HOLY UNICORN raced tight. C Y Ho (WONDERFUL CHASER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 500 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of ROCK THE TREE, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. C Y Ho was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 8 April 2018 and to expire on Thursday, 12 April 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Ho’s good race riding record. When laying in rounding the Home Turn, HALL OF FAME clipped the heels of HOLY UNICORN and blundered. Approaching the 50 Metres, LOADED and WONDERFUL CHASER were crowded for room between SAVANNAH WIND and PEARL FURU (N Callan) which, after initially shifting out away from SWEET BEAN, then shifted out further. Then over the concluding stages, SAVANNAH WIND (N Rawiller) shifted in under pressure, resulting in WONDERFUL CHASER being hampered. Both N Callan and N Rawiller were reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances they would be expected to react sooner than they did on this occasion to prevent their mounts from shifting ground. Because of the tightening, LOADED and in particular, WONDERFUL CHASER, were not able to be tested over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of HALL OF FAME and HOLY UNICORN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HOLY UNICORN, SWEET BEAN and PEARL FURU were sent for sampling.