26/05/2021  Happy Valley  Race 1

SPICY GRILL was withdrawn on 24.5.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of blood in trachea on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SMILING FACE. Before being allowed to race again, SPICY GRILL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded into the barriers, SMILING FACE was very fractious and on jumping was slow to begin. Before being allowed to race again, SMILING FACE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. STAR SUPERIOR and VIVA MAMA bumped at the start. From wide barriers, FOR FUN’S SAKE, JUMBO ENGINE and M M JOHNNY were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 900 Metres, STAR SUPERIOR was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 400 Metres, JUMBO ENGINE momentarily raced in restricted room between GLORIOUS INHERITOR and M M JOHNNY. At the entrance to the Straight, M M JOHNNY was shifted out a number of horses to obtain clear running. Passing the 100 Metres, H T Mo (VIVA MAMA) dropped his right rein. H T Mo (VIVA MAMA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the concluding stages he permitted his mount to shift out under pressure when not clear of XIANG LAN QI, resulting in that horse being unnecessarily crowded for room and being hampered. H T Mo was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 9 June 2021 and to expire on Monday, 14 June 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey Mo was fined $7,500. After the race, Z Purton was not able to offer any explanation for the performance of E HONEY which he said did not finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of E HONEY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SMILING FACE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. E HONEY, VIVA MAMA and FOR FUN’S SAKE were sent for sampling.