10/01/2021  Shatin  Race 2

GENERAL CASTLEDALE began awkwardly and got its head up on jumping. EVER STRONG shifted out at the start and made contact with LITTLE GENERAL. FUN TIMES jumped out at the start and bumped CITY LEGEND. After bumping at the start, VICTORIOUS LEADER and FRESH POWER, from the outside barriers, were steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1300 Metres, CITY LEGEND (Apprentice C L Chau) shifted in and made contact with FUN TIMES. Then due to contact on its hindquarters, CITY LEGEND continued to lay in despite the efforts of its rider to alleviate the tightening to FUN TIMES which was checked. Apprentice Chau was severely reprimanded and advised that the Stewards acknowledged that CITY LEGEND’s racing manners had played a part in this incident, nonetheless he must exercise more care when shifting ground. For some distance approaching the 900 Metres, CITY LEGEND commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when being steadied. At the 500 Metres, CITY LEGEND was awkwardly placed near the heels of CALIFORNIA LEGEND when being shifted to the outside of that horse. Passing the 300 Metres, GENERAL CASTLEDALE became badly unbalanced when bumped by WONDER EXPRESS which, after shifting out and racing tight with GENERAL CASTLEDALE, then received momentary pressure from COPARTNER ERA (A Badel) which shifted out and made contact with WONDER EXPRESS before being corrected. A Badel was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Passing the 200 Metres, VICTORIOUS LEADER was checked when disappointed for running between TINKER BELLE and MONEYMORE which shifted in. The Stewards were satisfied that VICTORIOUS LEADER had not established running to the inside of the heels of MONEYMORE prior to that horse shifting ground. VICTORIOUS LEADER remained badly held up behind MONEYMORE and was not able to be tested for the remainder of the event. Also passing the 200 Metres, EVER STRONG was steadied away from the heels of CALIFORNIA LEGEND which shifted in when racing tight inside CITY LEGEND which was inclined to lay in under pressure. For some distance after leaving the 200 Metres, TINKER BELLE was very awkwardly placed inside VICTORIOUS LEADER due to contact on the hindquarters from that runner. A Badel (COPARTNER ERA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 175 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out around the heels of CITY LEGEND when not clear of WONDER EXPRESS, resulting in that horse being checked. A Badel was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 17 January 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 21 January 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Badel’s good race riding record. When questioned, J Moreira stated that although WONDER EXPRESS struck interference in the Straight, the horse was well beaten at that stage. He said WONDER EXPRESS came under heavy pressure in the early part of the Straight and failed to provide any response. A veterinary inspection of WONDER EXPRESS 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, WONDER EXPRESS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of FUN TIMES and LITTLE GENERAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CALIFORNIA LEGEND, COPARTNER ERA and CITY LEGEND were sent for sampling.