13/02/2019  Happy Valley  Race 2

As the start was effected, LUCKY COIN bumped the inside of its gate and consequently was slow to begin. INVESTOR BOOM began awkwardly. From the outside barriers, TRIUMPHAL WIN and MY BLESSING were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. C Y Ho (GOLDEN CANNON) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1500 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of INVESTOR BOOM, resulting in that horse being unnecessarily crowded for room, being checked and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. C Y Ho was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 6 March 2019 and to expire on Monday, 11 March 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, C Y Ho was fined $55,000. After being crossed by MASSIVE POWER after passing the winning post on the first occasion, LUCKY STORM commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up repeatedly when awkwardly placed behind MASSIVE POWER. Then passing the 1300 Metres, LUCKY STORM, when continuing to prove very difficult to settle, attempted to shift out from behind MASSIVE POWER and bumped DRAGON REGIMENT. LUCKY STORM, which continued to over-race, and DRAGON REGIMENT then raced very tight for some distance. LUCKY STORM continued to over-race until after the 800 Metres at which time the horse was shifted to the outside of DRAGON REGIMENT and allowed to improve its position. Passing the 1200 Metres, ROOKIE STAR proved very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when being checked away from the heels of GOLDEN CANNON. INVESTOR BOOM, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. ROOKIE STAR continued to prove very difficult to settle, shifted out away from the heels of GOLDEN CANNON after the 1100 Metres and passing the 900 Metres shifted out away from the heels of THE INVINCIBLE. ROOKIE STAR consequently travelled wide and without cover until near the 700 Metre at which time the horse was able to shift back in behind THE INVINCIBLE. Near the 1050 Metres, MY BLESSING was awkwardly placed behind LUCKY COIN. GOLDEN CANNON proved difficult to settle for some distance after the 1000 Metres and near the 850 Metres got its head up when awkwardly placed behind SHOWING CHARACTER. MY BLESSING was awkwardly placed behind LUCKY COIN rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight was shifted out a number of horses to obtain clear running. Passing the 50 Metres, LUCKY STORM was directed out away from the heels of MASSIVE POWER. The performance of DRAGON REGIMENT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DRAGON REGIMENT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ROOKIE STAR immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, ROOKIE STAR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of TRIUMPHAL WIN immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of THE INVINCIBLE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that GOLDEN CANNON had sustained a small cut to the left front coronet. SHOWING CHARACTER and GOLDEN CANNON were sent for sampling.