23/06/2021  Happy Valley  Race 5

BEAUTY CHEERS shifted out at the start and bumped TELECOM CHEETAH. NOBLE DESIRE began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped TELECOM ROCKET. BRANDING POWER shifted in at the start and bumped CHIRON which began awkwardly, resulting in BRANDING POWER becoming unbalanced. GOOD SHOT shifted out at the start and inconvenienced THE ANOMALY which on jumping lifted its front feet off the ground. After this, THE ANOMALY was shifted across behind runners. From the outside barriers, HAPPY TIME and FLAMING PASSION were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. After travelling a short distance, TELECOM CHEETAH shifted out and bumped TELECOM ROCKET. Passing the 1100 Metres, BRANDING POWER and TELECOM ROCKET raced tight. Making the turn near the 1050 Metres, BRANDING POWER stumbled. Approaching the 900 Metres, FLAMING PASSION commenced to prove very difficult to settle and after the 900 Metres was checked away from the heels of BRANDING POWER. After this, FLAMING PASSION continued to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. Passing the 900 Metres, THE ANOMALY, which was proving very difficult to settle, was checked away from the heels of HAPPY TIME which itself was awkwardly placed behind GOOD SHOT. THE ANOMALY continued to prove difficult to settle and after the 850 Metres got its head up when being severely checked away from the heels of HAPPY TIME. After the 900 Metres, CHIRON, which was travelling keenly, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TELECOM ROCKET. BRANDING POWER got its head on the side and lay out making the turn after the 600 Metres and inconvenienced HAPPY TIME. Rounding the Home Turn, when improving to the outside of TELECOM CHEETAH, BRANDING POWER (A Badel) shifted out and bumped HAPPY TIME, resulting in BRANDING POWER becoming unbalanced and again stumbling. A Badel reported that after stumbling rounding the Home Turn, his mount came under heavy pressure and did not respond to his riding. He said approaching the 200 Metres as BRANDING POWER was not travelling well, he commenced to steady his mount when racing in restricted room inside HAPPY TIME and TELECOM CHEETAH (T Piccone) which shifted out. T Piccone was reprimanded and told whilst there were some circumstances to this incident, namely the manner in which BRANDING POWER was travelling, nonetheless he was reprimanded and told to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. A veterinary inspection of BRANDING POWER immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. M L Yeung (THE ANOMALY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of TELECOM CHEETAH, resulting in that horse being checked away from the heels of THE ANOMALY when unnecessarily crowded for room outside that horse. M L Yeung was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 11 July 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 15 July 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Yeung’s good race riding record. Throughout the race, BULLISH BROTHER travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of GOOD SHOT, BULLISH BROTHER and HAPPY TIME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NOBLE DESIRE and BEAUTY CHEERS were sent for sampling.