21/02/2018  Happy Valley  Race 7

SHARP SAILOR was crowded for room on jumping between KING OF MONGOLIA and BANK ON RED which shifted out. ISHVARA and ACCLAIMED LIGHT bumped at the start. From wide barriers, ACCLAIMED LIGHT, HO HO FEEL and HEROIC GURU were all steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, SUPER CHIC and ENSURING raced tight. Also making the turn after the 600 Metres, SMILING PRIDE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of KING OF MONGOLIA which lay in when close to the heels of SUPER CHIC. SMILING PRIDE then shifted out, resulting in SHARP SAILOR being inconvenienced. S Clipperton (BANK ON RED) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that rounding the Home Turn he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of SUPER CHIC, resulting in that horse being crowded for room, being checked and ultimately losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. S Clipperton was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 11 March 2018 and to expire on Thursday, 15 March 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Clipperton’s good race riding record. Near the 250 Metres, SANGRIA raced tight inside ACCLAIMED LIGHT when taken in by that horse which initially shifted to the inside of SHARP SAILOR to obtain clear running. Near the 50 Metres, SANGRIA and ACCLAIMED LIGHT bumped as SANGRIA was shifted out to improve into running between SHARP SAILOR and ACCLAIMED LIGHT which shifted in marginally. This resulted in both horses becoming unbalanced. For the major part of the race, ISHVARA travelled wide and without cover. After the race, M L Yeung stated that after momentarily racing tight inside SHARP SAILOR near the 450 Metres, SMILING PRIDE’s action deteriorated and then gave ground abruptly in the early part of the Straight. He said as he had concern for the horse’s welfare, he eased it down over the latter stages of the race. A veterinary inspection of SMILING PRIDE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, SMILING PRIDE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of BANK ON RED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SUPER CHIC immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. ENSURING, SHARP SAILOR and ACCLAIMED LIGHT were sent for sampling.