26/12/2019  Happy Valley  Race 3

DASHING DART was withdrawn on 24.12.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PERFECT TO PLAY (Z Purton). Before being allowed to race again, DASHING DART will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PERFECT TO PLAY began awkwardly, resulting in its rider, Z Purton, bumping heavily with the inside gate. From the outside barrier, RAZOR QUEST was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. TURF BRILLIANT was also steadied to obtain cover from a wide barrier soon after the start. Soon after the start, HURRICANE HUNTER and LET’S TAKE IT EASY bumped. At the 1500 Metres, SHINING ON was steadied when awkwardly placed between PRETTY BAUHINIA and SANGRIA which shifted in. C Schofield (FLASH FAMOUS) was found guilty of a charge of improper riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after shifting in at the 1100 Metres and placing pressure on PRETTY BAUHINIA, he continued to apply pressure to PRETTY BAUHINIA, resulting in that horse being hampered for a significant distance when racing outside the heels of WINNING ENDEAVOUR and ultimately resulting in PRETTY BAUHINIA being checked away from the heels of WINNING ENDEAVOUR when forced inwards at the 850 Metres. C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 11 January 2020 and to expire on Thursday, 30 January 2020 on which day he may resume race riding (6 Hong Kong racedays). DOR DOR made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly and lost ground. After leaving the 500 Metres, INDIGENOUS STAR was awkwardly placed inside the heels of PERFECT TO PLAY which got its head on the side and lay in. Over the final 50 Metres, SHINING ON and FLASH FAMOUS raced tight between WINNING ENDEAVOUR and SANGRIA which shifted out slightly under pressure. In this incident, SANGRIA was inclined to lay out after receiving contact on the hindquarters from SHINING ON. J Moreira, the rider of WINNING ENDEAVOUR, was obliged to stop riding and straighten his mount prior to the finishing line to avoid causing further crowding to FLASH FAMOUS. A veterinary inspection of PRETTY BAUHINIA and INDIGENOUS STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DOR DOR and WINNING ENDEAVOUR were sent for sampling.