24/03/2021  Happy Valley  Race 3

HAPPY WIN WIN and MING WARRIOR bumped at the start. From wide barriers, AEROSONIC and DIONYSUS COLLIN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After initially being ridden along in the early stages, DREAM WARRIORS was steadied passing the 1600 Metres to obtain cover. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, HAPPY WIN WIN was checked when crowded for room between WIND GLIDER and MING WARRIOR which at this time was taken in by OWNERS’ STAR (Z Purton) which, despite the efforts of its rider, got its head on the side and shifted in away from SAVVY KINGMAN as that horse was shifting in. The Stewards found that in the lead up to the incident, HAPPY WIN WIN was racing tight inside the heels of MING WARRIOR which got its head on the side and lay in away from OWNERS’ STAR which at this time was being ridden along. The Stewards further found that when OWNERS’ STAR commenced to lay in away from SAVVY KINGMAN, Z Purton had stopped riding and reacted in a timely manner to turn OWNERS’ STAR’s head out in an attempt to relieve the pressure to that horse’s inside. This resulted in OWNERS’ STAR in the latter stages of the incident racing close to the heels of SAVVY KINGMAN. As the Stewards were of the opinion that Jockey Purton had not ridden carelessly in this incident, no further action was taken. Near the 1350 Metres, AEROSONIC got its head on the side and lay in despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in DIONYSUS COLLIN being checked when crowded for room inside AEROSONIC. When AEROSONIC was able to be shifted out, that horse shifted a considerable number of horses away from DIONYSUS COLLIN. As the Stewards were of the opinion that this incident was as a result of AEROSONIC’s racing manners at this stage of the race rather than any carelessness exhibited by its rider, no further action was taken. H W Lai (ALL BEST FRIENDS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of BULLETPROOF, resulting in that horse being directed in onto DREAM WARRIORS, causing DREAM WARRIORS to be taken in onto ZHAN JIANG ROCKS which was badly hampered when unnecessarily crowded for room. In the circumstances, H W Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 31 March 2021 and to expire on Tuesday, 6 April 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). Passing the 1200 Metres, ALL BEST FRIENDS was left racing wide and without cover. In the middle stages, SAVVY KINGMAN travelled keenly in the lead. After the 500 Metres, ALL BEST FRIENDS raced tight outside OWNERS’ STAR which improved into tight running between ALL BEST FRIENDS and CABLE SPEED. Approaching the 400 Metres, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HAPPY WIN WIN. From passing the 300 Metres until near the 200 Metres, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS was badly held up for clear running when unable to improve between HAPPY WIN WIN and CABLE SPEED (C Wong) which shifted in. Whilst the Stewards were of the opinion that ZHAN JIANG ROCKS had not improved to the inside of CABLE SPEED, nonetheless C Wong was advised to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. In this incident, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS was checked away from the heels of CABLE SPEED whilst AEROSONIC was shifted out abruptly away from the heels of ZHAN JIANG ROCKS in consequence. Passing the 200 Metres, BULLETPROOF was shifted out away from the heels of OWNERS’ STAR to obtain clear running after OWNERS’ STAR shifted out marginally under pressure. Close to the finishing line, K Teetan (DREAM WARRIORS) dropped his right rein. SAVVY KINGMAN, BULLETPROOF and DREAM WARRIORS were sent for sampling.