05/12/2018  Happy Valley  Race 7

OUR HERO, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 4.12.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, OUR HERO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CURLING LUXURY shifted out at the start and bumped ALL YOU KNOW. After this, ALL YOU KNOW was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. LITTLE ISLAND and LOTUS BREEZE bumped at the start. LITTLE ISLAND and SPARKLING SWORD then raced tight shortly after the start between LOTUS BREEZE and MIDNITE PROMISE which shifted out. In this incident, SPARKLING SWORD and LOTUS BREEZE both became unbalanced due to contact on the hindquarters from LITTLE ISLAND as that horse raced tight between SPARKLING SWORD and LOTUS BREEZE. From wide barriers, FORMULA GALORE and GENTRY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, SPARKLING SWORD got its head up and travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind POSITIVELY HIGH. Passing the 1200 Metres, FORMULA GALORE and LETSGOFREE raced tight. Despite being ridden along for a considerable distance in the early and middle stages, MIDNITE PROMISE raced detached from the field. The performance of MIDNITE PROMISE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Having regard to the horse’s previous history of having raced unacceptably, the Stewards ruled that MIDNITE PROMISE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a series of consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again. A veterinary inspection of MIDNITE PROMISE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Passing the 800 Metres, SPARKLING SWORD shifted out away from the heels of POSITIVELY HIGH when travelling keenly. After this, SPARKLING SWORD was left racing wide and without cover. At the entrance to the Straight, GENTRY was shifted to the inside of LOTUS BREEZE to improve. Approaching the 300 Metres, POSITIVELY HIGH and LITTLE ISLAND raced tight as LITTLE ISLAND shifted to the outside of MEGATRON to obtain clear running. J Castellano (CURLING LUXURY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 150 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of KIROV which was hampered and taken out across the rightful running of MEGATRON and GENTRY, both of which were badly hampered. In this incident, POSITIVELY HIGH shifted out away from GENTRY, causing LOTUS BREEZE to be inconvenienced. J Castellano was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 26 December 2018 and to expire on Sunday, 30 December 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). Passing the 150 Metres, ALL YOU KNOW shifted out under pressure, resulting in S de Sousa changing his whip over into his left hand. After the race, K Teetan expressed concern regarding the action of FORMULA GALORE. A veterinary inspection of FORMULA GALORE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, FORMULA GALORE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SPARKLING SWORD immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a minor laceration to the left hind fetlock. A veterinary inspection of LOTUS BREEZE and POSITIVELY HIGH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ALL YOU KNOW, LITTLE ISLAND and CURLING LUXURY were sent for sampling.