14/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 2

POLARIS WINNER began only fairly and then shifted out towards the hindquarters of RED IMPACT. CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO shifted in on jumping and inconvenienced RING BELLS. Shortly after the start, RED IMPACT shifted out and hampered SUNNY BABY. RED IMPACT then continued to shift out and inconvenienced JOLLY HONOUR. After this, from wide barriers, SUNNY BABY and JOLLY HONOUR were shifted across behind runners. Also from the outside barrier, HANG’S CHOICE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, RED IMPACT failed to muster speed and after travelling a short distance was steadied to obtain cover. V Borges (BEAUTY NOVA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 1600 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of AMAZING NEWS, resulting in AMAZING NEWS being crowded for room and taken in across the rightful running of FLASH FAMOUS which was checked and then after this continued to allow his mount to shift in which resulted in AMAZING NEWS being unnecessarily crowded for room and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled near the 1550 Metres. V Borges was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 28 December 2022 and to expire on Monday, 2 January 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Borges’ good race riding record. Passing the 1400 Metres, AMAZING NEWS raced very close to the heels of BEAUTY NOVA and was shifted out away from the heels of that horse. AMAZING NEWS was then left racing wide and without cover and passing the 1200 Metres was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead approaching the 1000 Metres. When AMAZING NEWS shifted out away from the heels of BEAUTY NOVA, POLARIS WINNER was taken wider before being steadied to obtain cover. RED IMPACT, which was following POLARIS WINNER, was eased away from the heels of that horse in consequence and at the 1300 Metres shifted in and bumped SUNNY BABY. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, SURE WIN WIN raced tight inside BEAUTY NOVA which shifted in away from the heels of RING BELLS. Passing the 150 Metres, JOLLY HONOUR was shifted in away from the heels of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO to obtain clear running and then raced in restricted room between CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO and SMART FOLKS for a short distance approaching the 100 Metres. Then after the 50 Metres, SMART FOLKS was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of JOLLY HONOUR. After the race, Z Purton was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO which he said came under pressure rounding the Home Turn after enjoying a good run in the lead and then did not finish the race off over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING NEWS immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO, FLASH FAMOUS and JOLLY HONOUR were sent for sampling.