05/03/2023  Shatin  Race 7

BELUGA was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen left front fetlock). Before being allowed to race again, BELUGA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HANDSOME TWELVE jumped awkwardly and shortly after the start was then bumped by SAVAQUIN which knuckled over on jumping and shifted out. APACHE PASS jumped only fairly and then shifted out and brushed TELECOM FIGHTERS. From wide barriers, BERLIN TANGO and SUPER WIN DRAGON were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1200 Metres, HANDSOME TWELVE, which was inclined to race keenly, blundered when it struck the heels of SAVAQUIN whilst racing tight to the inside of SUPER WIN DRAGON. Near the 700 Metres, SAVAQUIN lay in and away from APACHE PASS, struck the running rail and became unbalanced. C L Chau (HANDSOME TWELVE) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of SAVAQUIN, resulting in that horse being crowded for room between HANDSOME TWELVE and APACHE PASS and ultimately SAVAQUIN losing its rightful running after being checked at the 200 Metres. C L Chau was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 26 March 2023 and to expire on Thursday, 30 March 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Chau’s good race riding record. When questioned regarding his riding of HANDSOME TWELVE in the Straight, C L Chau stated that the preference from connections were to obtain clear running to the outside. He said with this in mind he shifted out to follow CHANCHENG PRINCE, which he felt was a good chance in today’s race, with a view to shifting to that runner’s outside. He said when CHANCHENG PRINCE shifted out slightly, he was then obliged to shift to the inside of CHANCHENG PRINCE near the 150 Metres whereby HANDSOME TWELVE secured clear running and he was able to fully test his mount to the finish of the event. When questioned as to why he did not initially endeavour to obtain a run that had developed between CHANCHENG PRINCE and TRUE LEGEND near the 300 Metres, C L Chau stated that as he focused on securing clear running to the outside and felt this was the best option initially as he had expected SAVAQUIN to give ground sooner than it did. After the race, K Teetan (TELECOM FIGHTERS) stated that whilst his mount was able to lead, when asked for an effort making the Home Turn, it failed to respond to his riding. He said when TELECOM FIGHTERS continued to not respond and was not in a competitive position, he desisted from riding his mount out over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of TELECOM FIGHTERS immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of TRUE LEGEND immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. EVERYONE’S DELIGHT and HANDSOME TWELVE were sent for sampling.