30/01/2019  Happy Valley  Race 7

AMAZING CHOCOLATE began only fairly. EXPLOSIVE WITNESS and MOST BEAUTIFUL bumped at the start. Then a short distance after the start, EXPLOSIVE WITNESS was momentarily crowded for room between MOST BEAUTIFUL and EPTIMUM which shifted in. DRAGON PIONEER was crowded for room on jumping between HEALTHY LUCK and GENTLE BREEZE, both of which shifted ground. From a wide barrier, NOBLE DELIGHT was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Apprentice C Wong (MOMENT OF POWER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 650 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of STRATHALLAN, causing that horse to be unnecessarily crowded for room and to be hampered. Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 10 February 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 14 February 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). Passing the 650 Metres, EXPLOSIVE WITNESS got its head up when travelling keenly and awkwardly placed close to the heels of MOST BEAUTIFUL. After this, EXPLOSIVE WITNESS continued to travel keenly. Passing the 500 Metres, TEAM SPIRIT raced tight inside STRATHALLAN which got its head on the side and lay in away from HEALTHY LUCK. In this incident, TEAM SPIRIT brushed the running rail. Passing the 400 Metres, TEAM SPIRIT again raced tight inside STRATHALLAN which continued to lay in away from HEALTHY LUCK. Passing the 200 Metres, NOBLE DELIGHT was directed to the outside of DRAGON PIONEER to obtain clear running. For the majority of the race, HEALTHY LUCK travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the performance of TEAM SPIRIT, K C Leung stated that the horse, which was having its first start at Happy Valley tonight, did not appreciate racing tight inside other runners at various stages during the race. He said whilst TEAM SPIRIT was particularly disappointing in the manner in which it weakened in the Straight, he believed that the circumstances of the race may have contributed to the horse’s disappointing run. A veterinary inspection of TEAM SPIRIT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of STRATHALLAN immediately following the race revealed the horse to be displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, STRATHALLAN will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOMENT OF POWER and NOBLE DELIGHT were sent for sampling.