23/02/2022  Happy Valley  Race 4

MASTER ALBERT was crowded for room on jumping between ASTRO KING and FORTUNE HERO, both of which shifted ground. TOUCH FAITH began awkwardly and shifted out, resulting in FIRE BALL losing ground after becoming unbalanced when crowded for room inside BINGO BINGO. Then a short distance after this, TOUCH FAITH and FIRE BALL were crowded for room between BINGO BINGO and ASTRO KING which shifted out. In this incident, BINGO BINGO became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by FIRE BALL. TOUCH FAITH lost its left front plate in the early stages. CORDYCEPS ONE and FARIBAULT were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the 1100 Metres, MASTER ALBERT and TOUCH FAITH lost ground when crowded for room between FORTUNE HERO which got its head on the side and shifted out and then shifted out further after being bumped on the hindquarters by MASTER ALBERT and FIRE BALL which was taken in marginally by BINGO BINGO before that horse was corrected and shifted out. At the entrance to the Straight, TOUCH FAITH raced tight outside FARIBAULT which shifted out to obtain clear running. At the 300 Metres, MASTER ALBERT was shifted to the inside of BINGO BINGO when disappointed for running to the outside of that horse and inside MERCURIAL and passing the 200 Metres was momentarily held up when commencing to improve into tight running between ASTRO KING and HANDSOME REBEL. MASTER ALBERT then continued to race in restricted room between those horses as HANDSOME REBEL shifted in when racing inside the heels of BINGO BINGO which shifted in under pressure. Then near the 100 Metres, MASTER ALBERT shifted in away from the heels of HANDSOME REBEL and bumped ASTRO KING which in turn shifted in and inconvenienced FORTUNE HERO. Because of these incidents, MASTER ALBERT was not able to be properly tested over the latter stages of the race. Passing the 200 Metres, FORTUNE HERO and ASTRO KING raced tight. D Moor (BINGO BINGO) 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 in when not clear of HANDSOME REBEL, resulting in that horse being hampered and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. D Moor was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 12 March 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 17 March 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). Over the concluding stages, ASTRO KING was awkwardly placed behind MEGA BONUS and because of this was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Throughout the race, HANDSOME REBEL travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of FORTUNE HERO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MASTER ALBERT immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. MEGA BONUS, MERCURIAL and WINE AND WINE were sent for sampling.