24/10/2020  Shatin  Race 8

SPARKLING KNIGHT lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began very awkwardly and then became badly unbalanced as a result of bumping with MERIDIAN GENIUS. FLYING GENIUS lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin and then lost ground after being bumped by BALTIC SUCCESS which shifted out. JOYFUL HEART was slow to begin. SEA OF LIFE shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of CRUISING which became unbalanced. Passing the 200 Metres, LOBO’S LEGEND was crowded for room between SEA OF LIFE and LORIZ which got its head on the side and lay out. After this, LORIZ was shifted back in to relieve the crowding to LOBO’S LEGEND. In this incident, SEA OF LIFE was bumped on the hindquarters by LOBO’S LEGEND. JOYFUL HEART was badly held up for clear running from near the 150 Metres until approaching the 50 Metres at which stage the horse was directed to the inside of MERIDIAN GENIUS to obtain clear running. H T Mo (SPARKLING KNIGHT) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the concluding stages he permitted his mount to shift out, resulting in FLYING GENIUS being taken out onto LOBO’S LEGEND, causing that horse to be hampered and in turn taken out across the rightful running of SEA OF LIFE which was checked. H T Mo was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 and to expire on Monday, 23 November 2020 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CRUISING, A Hamelin stated that whilst he had no recent experience on the horse, it did not appear to be travelling comfortably for him at any stage. He said the horse lay in for the majority of the race and would not race truly. He said CRUISING came under heavy pressure prior to the 400 Metres and then gave ground noticeably over the concluding stages when continuing to lay in and proving difficult to ride. He added after the race CRUISING made an abnormal breathing noise. He said he recommended to connections to experiment with gear on CRUISING as, in his opinion, the horse was not concentrating in today’s race. Mr T P Yung, the trainer of CRUISING, stated that following its last start success he had sent the horse to Conghua and it had done well there before being returned to Hong Kong. He said he was not able to provide any reason for the disappointing performance as the horse had not experienced any setbacks since its last start success and, based on its work, was expected to race well. A veterinary inspection of CRUISING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of CRUISING, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CRUISING will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GOOD VIEW CLARICO, BALTIC SUCCESS and SPARKLING KNIGHT were sent for sampling.