16/11/2022  Happy Valley  Race 9

PEGASUS GENERAL was crowded for room on jumping between AMAZING ONE PLUS and COMET SPLENDIDO which shifted out. MASTER DELIGHT shifted in at the start and brushed the hindquarters of RED MAJESTY. DELIGHTFUL LAOS was slow to begin. VILLA FIONN began awkwardly and then was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From wide barriers, MASTER DELIGHT and RISING FROM ASHES were steadied to obtain a position closer to the rail. After the 1600 Metres, COMET SPLENDIDO was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WINNING DRAGON when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. AMAZING ONE PLUS, which was racing outside COMET SPLENDIDO, raced tight outside the hindquarters of that horse when also being steadied to obtain cover. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, RISING FROM ASHES commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted in abruptly when being checked away from the heels of AMAZING ONE PLUS which at the same time was also being steadied to obtain cover behind COMET SPLENDIDO. When RISING FROM ASHES shifted in abruptly, MASTER DELIGHT was checked when crowded for room between RISING FROM ASHES and PEGASUS GENERAL. As the Stewards were of the opinion that this incident resulted from RISING FROM ASHES, which was carrying blinkers for the first time tonight, over-racing and AMAZING ONE PLUS being steadied in advance of RISING FROM ASHES, no further action was taken. After the 500 Metres, PEGASUS GENERAL shifted out and bumped AMAZING ONE PLUS. Then at the entrance to the Straight, AMAZING ONE PLUS was shifted out away from the heels of RED MAJESTY which was giving ground. M F Poon (NEVER TOO SOON) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after allowing his mount to shift in after the 200 Metres which resulted in MASTER DELIGHT being crowded for room, he made insufficient effort to prevent NEVER TOO SOON from shifting ground over about the final 100 Metres which resulted in MASTER DELIGHT racing unnecessarily tight inside NEVER TOO SOON and close to the finishing line having to be checked when unable to maintain its position to the inside of that horse. M F Poon was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 and to expire on Monday, 5 December 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Poon’s good race riding record. Close to the finishing line, DELIGHTFUL LAOS raced tight inside E LEGEND which at this time was held up for clear running behind WINNING DRAGON. Because of this, E LEGEND was not able to be ridden out over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of RED MAJESTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. COMET SPLENDIDO, WINNING DRAGON and PEGASUS GENERAL were sent for sampling.