07/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 8

SOLID IMPACT was withdrawn on 6.12.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BEAUTY GLORY (R Moore). Before being allowed to race again, SOLID IMPACT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BEAUTY GLORY shifted out at the start, resulting in HERE COMES TED being crowded for room inside HAPPY SHARING. In this incident, HAPPY SHARING (H Bowman) became badly unbalanced a short distance later. After the race, H Bowman stated that after becoming badly unbalanced shortly after the start, he had to ride his mount along in the early stages to obtain a forward position as instructed. He said, in his opinion, HAPPY SHARING did not appreciate having to be ridden along in the early stages as the horse then travelled too keenly in the middle stages. He added that after the 600 Metres he allowed XPONENTIAL to cross HAPPY SHARING with a view to assisting his mount in relaxing. He said HAPPY SHARING came under heavy pressure rounding the Home Turn and then did not finish the race off over the concluding stages. He attributed HAPPY SHARING’s failure to close off tonight to the horse racing too keenly in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY SHARING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ADIOS also shifted out on jumping and bumped CALIFORNIA VANES. MR VALIANT began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped NAMJONG SINGS. After this, NAMJONG SINGS and MR VALIANT were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. XPONENTIAL and RED LION bumped at the start. When being steadied, MR VALIANT and STORMTROUPER, which was also being steadied to obtain cover from a wide barrier, bumped near the 1150 Metres. From the outside barrier, GOLD MARQUIS was steadied on jumping and near the 1100 Metres shifted in and inconvenienced MR VALIANT. GOLD MARQUIS again shifted in after the 900 Metres and inconvenienced MR VALIANT. After this, GOLD MARQUIS travelled very wide and without cover. Passing the 1000 Metres and again near the 850 Metres, ADIOS got its head up when being steadied. Then passing the 800 Metres, ADIOS shifted out and raced tight inside the heels of XPONENTIAL. Making the turn after the 550 Metres, MR VALIANT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of RED LION. Passing the 500 Metres, NAMJONG SINGS got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of MR VALIANT. After the 500 Metres, HERE COMES TED became unbalanced when very awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEAUTY GLORY. Then passing the 200 Metres, HERE COMES TED shifted out and raced tight inside MR VALIANT. J Kah (RED LION) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 250 Metres she failed to take sufficient measures to prevent her mount from shifting out when not clear of GOLD MARQUIS, causing GOLD MARQUIS to strike the heels of RED LION and stumble. J Kah was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 11 December 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 15 December 2022 on which day she may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). A veterinary inspection of GOLD MARQUIS immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a wound to the right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, GOLD MARQUIS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Close to the finishing line, CALIFORNIA VANES raced tight between XPONENTIAL and PLEASANT ENDEAVOR. Throughout the race, PLEASANT ENDEAVOR travelled wide and without cover. After the race, R Moore reported that in the Straight BEAUTY GLORY gave ground abruptly and he was not able to offer any reason for the horse’s failure to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY GLORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ADIOS and RED LION were sent for sampling.