26/12/2018  Happy Valley  Race 8

JOYFUL TRINITY was withdrawn on 25.12.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left front suspensory) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter IMPERIAL GALLANTRY (M F Poon). Before being allowed to race again, JOYFUL TRINITY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After shifting out at the start and making contact with VOLPINO, WINNING FAITH was then bumped by IMPERIAL GALLANTRY shortly after which got its head on the side and shifted out. After the 900 Metres, JADE FORTUNE was left racing wide and without cover. After being awkwardly placed behind RED WARRIOR for some distance, VOLPINO was checked away from the heels of that horse at the 750 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, STIMULATION became badly unbalanced when contacted on the hindquarters by TURIN REDSTAR (K C Leung) which improved into tight running between STIMULATION and the leader LAND GRANT. TURIN REDSTAR also became unbalanced as a consequence of the contact with STIMULATION. K C Leung was severely reprimanded and advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that his mount improved to be racing close to the heels of LAND GRANT and that he did not force his way out aggressively, nonetheless his positioning of TURIN REDSTAR had initiated the contact with STIMULATION which caused both horses to be badly hampered. Passing the 200 Metres, GOOD OMEN was directed to the inside of the heels of PIKACHU to continue improving. Over the concluding stages, WINNING FAITH lay in and was awkwardly placed outside RED WARRIOR. A veterinary inspection of STIMULATION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LITTERATEUR and RED WARRIOR were sent for sampling.