04/01/2023  Happy Valley  Race 9

GOLDEN LINK began awkwardly and shifted out on jumping. GOLD GOLD BABY and BEAUTY CHARGE began only fairly. NICCONI COUNTY shifted out at the start and bumped NAMJONG SINGS. After this, from wide barriers, NICCONI COUNTY and NAMJONG SINGS were steadied to obtain cover. OUR LUCKY GLORY was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. H T Mo (SUMMIT CHEERS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 800 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HAPPY SHARING, resulting in that horse being checked when unnecessarily crowded for room and taken in onto the hindquarters of HEROIC MASTER. H T Mo was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 15 January 2023 and to expire on Thursday, 19 January 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey Mo was fined $2,500. HEROIC MASTER became unbalanced on a number of occasions when bumped on the hindquarters by HAPPY SHARING in this incident. OUR LUCKY GLORY lost its left hind plate after the 400 Metres. Close to the finishing line, COBHFIELD was very awkwardly placed behind GOLDEN LINK. Throughout the race, LORD THUNDER travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. A veterinary inspection of LORD THUNDER immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm and an endoscopic examination also showed a substantial amount of blood in its trachea. Before being allowed to race again, LORD THUNDER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, Z Purton reported that HEROIC MASTER travelled too keenly in the early and middle stages and because of this was then not able to finish the race off. He said he recommended to connections that they consider dropping the horse back in trip at its future starts. A veterinary inspection of HEROIC MASTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, Apprentice Y L Chung reported that HAPPY SHARING, which gave ground noticeably in the Straight, was making an abnormal breathing noise. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY SHARING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SUMMIT CHEERS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HEROIC MASTER, GOLD GOLD BABY and BEAUTY CHARGE were sent for sampling.