21/04/2021  Happy Valley  Race 6

Trainer D E Ferraris was fined $3,000 for presenting CHAMPION PRIDE in the Parade Ring with blinkers after that piece of equipment had been removed following its most recent start. FLAMING PASSION began awkwardly. TELECOM ROCKET and TELECOM PUMA bumped at the start. IMMENSE HEDGE shifted in at the start and bumped MAGIC BONUS. Then from wide barriers, MAGIC BONUS and IMMENSE HEDGE were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. From a wide barrier, MONSTER KAKA was also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. For a considerable distance in the early and middle stages, TAKINGUFURTHER was ridden along to take up a forward position from the outside barrier. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, CHAMPION PRIDE got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover behind BULLISH BROTHER. Approaching and passing the 800 Metres, CHAMPION PRIDE travelled keenly when awkwardly placed behind BULLISH BROTHER. Approaching the 600 Metres, DOLLAR REWARD was eased away from the heels of TAKINGUFURTHER which shifted in. After the 600 Metres, TELECOM PUMA was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, CHAMPION PRIDE got its head on the side, shifted in of its own accord and bumped the running rail. FLAMING PASSION, which was racing outside CHAMPION PRIDE, lay in towards the heels of that horse at the same time, resulting in LEGEND GOES being momentarily racing tight inside the heels of FLAMING PASSION and also brushing the running rail. Near the 450 Metres, BULLISH BROTHER shifted out away from the heels of TAKINGUFURTHER and bumped the hindquarters of DOLLAR REWARD. After this, DOLLAR REWARD got its head on the side and lay out making the Home Turn. CHAMPION PRIDE, which was following BULLISH BROTHER, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. B Shinn (TELECOM PUMA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after the 300 Metres, when riding his mount along, he permitted it to shift in for some distance when not clear of DOLLAR REWARD, resulting in that horse, which was positioned to the inside of TELECOM PUMA, being unnecessarily hampered and crowded for room and having to be steadied passing the 250 Metres. B Shinn was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 8 May 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 13 May 2021 (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Shinn’s good race riding record. MONSTER KAKA had some difficulty obtaining clear running approaching and passing the 200 Metres. Passing the 150 Metres, TELECOM ROCKET raced tight outside FLAMING PASSION which shifted out. Then near the 50 Metres, FLAMING PASSION momentarily raced tight inside TELECOM ROCKET. FIRE BALL, TELECOM ROCKET and FLAMING PASSION were sent for sampling.