13/05/2023  Shatin  Race 4

STERLING WONGCHOY was withdrawn on 12.5.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). Before being allowed to race again, STERLING WONGCHOY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, INNOCONSTRUCTION reared, resulting in its rider, B Avdulla, becoming badly unbalanced and INNOCONSTRUCTION losing ground. Before being allowed to race again, INNOCONSTRUCTION will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. HIGH PERCENTAGE was slow to begin. LUCKY FUN jumped only fairly. Shortly after the start, HEALTHY HEALTHY was crowded by ALWAYS AWESOME which was taken out by SPARKLING DOLPHIN when that runner shifted out. H Bowman (ALWAYS AWESOME) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 150 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of TRIUMPHANT RETURN, resulting in that horse losing its rightful running when being crowded by ALWAYS AWESOME. H Bowman was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 21 May 2023 and to expire on Thursday, 25 May 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Bowman’s good race riding record. Near the 100 Metres, INNOCONSTRUCTION, which was inclined to lay out, shifted out and bumped HAPPY HORSE. After the race, C L Chau (HEALTHY HEALTHY) reported that his mount was not comfortable on today’s racing surface. A veterinary inspection of HEALTHY HEALTHY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, H Bentley (HIGH PERCENTAGE) reported that his mount lay out throughout the event and over the concluding stages could not be ridden out to the finish when positioned close to the heels of SPARKLING DOLPHIN. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY FUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of INNOCONSTRUCTION immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. MIDAS TOUCH, SPARKLING KNIGHT and STRATHPEFFER were sent for sampling.