17/03/2019  Shatin  Race 7

Following Apprentice C Wong being ruled as not suitable to fulfil his engagement on UGLY WARRIOR in this race, the Stewards received an application from Mr T K Chung, the syndicate manager of the Just Fantastic Syndicate, the owner of UGLY WARRIOR for that horse to be ridden by a jockey who was not eligible to claim a weight allowance; or for that horse to be withdrawn from the race. The Stewards denied the application for UGLY WARRIOR to be withdrawn from the race and, acting under the provisions of Stewards’ Instruction 17(4), ruled that that horse must be ridden by a jockey with a claiming allowance as there was no apprentice jockey available to ride the horse. Accordingly, H N Wong was substituted as the rider of UGLY WARRIOR. As the start was effected, ASSIMILATE turned its head to the right and consequently was slow to begin. KING OF HEARTS lost its left front plate on jumping. When being steadied after the 1100 Metres, UGLY WARRIOR got its head up and travelled keenly. At the 1050 Metres, WATER DIVINER shifted in and bumped FULL OF BEAUTY. After the 900 Metres, LEAN PERFECTION was left racing wide and without cover. In the Straight, STIMULATION lay in under pressure. When questioned, T H So stated that it was intended for MR LUMIERES to be positioned behind the leaders. He said however that as the start was effected MR LUMIERES became fractious and kicked out of the back gates with both hind legs which resulted in the horse beginning awkwardly, losing ground and causing MR LUMIERES to race further back in the field than had been planned. When questioned, M F Poon stated that after steadying FLAT HEAVEN to allow WAY MAY FRIEND to cross his mount near the 900 Metres and obtain cover, FLAT HEAVEN commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was severely checked away from the heels of WAH MAY FRIEND for a considerable distance. He said near the 650 Metres FLAT HEAVEN became badly unbalanced when having to be severely checked away from the heels of WAH MAY FRIEND which resulted in FLAT HEAVEN losing ground. He said because of the manner in which FLAT HEAVEN travelled for the majority of the race, the horse was then not able to finish off the race. When FLAT HEAVEN was checked near the 650 Metres, that horse shifted out and hampered STIMULATION. SUPER HOPPY which was following STIMULATION, shifted out away from the heels of that horse in consequence and then raced tight between STIMULATION and FORTUNE BOOTH until near the 600 Metres at which stage SUPER HOPPY was checked when unable to maintain its position inside FORTUNE BOOTH which continued to hold its line. Also when FLAT HEAVEN was checked, MR LUMIERES became badly unbalanced in consequence when being checked away from the heels of that horse, causing MR LUMIERES to lose ground. ASSIMILATE, which was following MR LUMIERES, was checked out away from the heels of that horse in consequence after the 650 Metres, resulting in KING OF HEARTS being taken wider. A veterinary inspection of FLAT HEAVEN immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained minor lacerations to both front fetlocks and the inside of the right hind cannon. A veterinary inspection of WAH MAY FRIEND 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, WAH MAY FRIEND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FULL OF BEAUTY and WATER DIVINER were sent for sampling.