18/05/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

JOLLY HONOUR, which was leaning on the outside of its gate as the start was effected, began only fairly and then lost ground when crowded for room between MORE THAN ENOUGH and ON EXCEL STAR which shifted out. CORDYCEPS TWO began awkwardly and then shifted out towards the heels of KOWLOON GREAT which shifted in after being bumped by EEVEE which caused CORDYCEPS TWO to clip the heels of KOWLOON GREAT and stumble. This incident resulted in CORDYCEPS TWO racing back in the field. From wide barriers, EEVEE and NORDIC COMBINED were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. K H Chan (KOWLOON GREAT) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after permitting his mount to shift in near the 1300 Metres and crowding the racing room of HYPERION TREE and CORDYCEPS TWO, he again permitted his mount to shift in near the 1200 Metres when not clear of HYPERION TREE, resulting in that horse being taken in onto CORDYCEPS TWO, causing both HYPERION TREE and CORDYCEPS TWO to be unnecessarily crowded for room. K H Chan was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 5 June 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 9 June 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey Chan was fined $20,000. At the entrance to the Straight, KOWLOON GREAT was shifted in away from the heels of MEDIC ELITE. Approaching the 200 Metres, K H Chan dropped his whip. As this was the 3rd occasion this season that K H Chan had been reported to have dropped his whip in races, he was placed on notice that should he offend again in the near future, further action may be taken. Passing the 200 Metres, MORE THAN ENOUGH, which was giving ground, was momentarily eased away from the heels of E LEGEND (C L Chau) which shifted in. C L Chau was reprimanded and told to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in future. B Shinn (WIN WIN FIGHTER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HAPPY DAILY, resulting in that horse being hampered when unnecessarily crowded for room inside WIN WIN FIGHTER. B Shinn was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 1 June 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 9 June 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey Shinn was fined $50,000. After the race, C L Chau reported that after racing comfortably in a position outside the lead, in his opinion, E LEGEND was disappointing in that after coming under pressure prior to the 400 Metres and initially staying on satisfactorily in the early part of the Straight, the horse then weakened over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of E LEGEND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPY DAILY, WIN WIN FIGHTER and JOLLY HONOUR were sent for sampling.