12/05/2018  Shatin  Race 1

Whilst in the saddling stalls, ALPHA HEDGE had its left front plate refitted. ALPHA HEDGE was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. SPEEDY DRAGON began awkwardly. COUR VALANT began very awkwardly and lost ground. KING OPIE was slow to begin and then was steadied away from the heels of EXPRESS STAR shortly after the start when that horse shifted out. JUST NOT LISTENING began very awkwardly, shifted out and bumped LUNAR ZEPHYR. JUST NOT LISTENING then lost ground when crowded for room between LUNAR ZEPHYR which became unbalanced and shifted in slightly and LIGHTNING STEED which shifted out. Passing the 850 Metres, OUR HONOUR raced tight outside NOBLE DELIGHT which in turn was awkwardly placed outside the heels of LUNAR ZEPHYR (Apprentice C Wong) which shifted out abruptly before being corrected by its rider to relieve the tightening to NOBLE DELIGHT and OUR HONOUR. Apprentice Wong was severely reprimanded and advised that this was the second occasion in recent meetings that the Stewards had had to speak to him regarding allowing his mounts to shift acutely and subsequently causing interference to other runners. Near the 750 Metres, SHIMMER AND SHINE was eased away from the heels of LIGHTNING STEED. Near the 700 Metres, NOBLE DELIGHT raced tight outside LUNAR ZEPHYR. LUNAR ZEPHYR was then shifted in, resulting in HK TOURBILLON being hampered when crowded for room outside LIGHTNING STEED. Passing the 700 Metres, SHIMMER AND SHINE shifted in away from the heels of LIGHTNING STEED and bumped JUST NOT LISTENING. Near the 150 Metres, KING OPIE was steadied when disappointed for running between OUR HONOUR and ALPHA HEDGE which was taken out by COUR VALANT which, after shifting out abruptly, then despite the efforts of its rider continued to lay out. KING OPIE was then awkwardly placed close to the heels of OUR HONOUR over the concluding stages and was not able to be properly tested. Over the final 100 Metres, OUR HONOUR was not able to obtain clear running and consequently was not able to be tested. C Schofield (SHIMMER AND SHINE) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 25 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of LIGHTNING STEED, causing that horse to be unnecessarily crowded for room and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 3 June 2018 and to expire on Thursday, 7 June 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, C Schofield was fined $40,000. Close to the finishing line, COUR VALANT got its head on the side and lay out. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of JUST NOT LISTENING, J Moreira stated that after being hampered at the start, he was able to take up a forward position as anticipated. He said however that JUST NOT LISTENING did not travel strongly at any stage in the race and, in his opinion, felt "flat”. A veterinary inspection of JUST NOT LISTENING immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained minor wounds to the inside of its left hind pastern. A veterinary inspection of SPEEDY DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SHIMMER AND SHINE and LUNAR ZEPHYR were sent for sampling.