11/05/2019  Shatin  Race 2

ROCHFORD was withdrawn on 9.5.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LEISURED FEET. Before being allowed to race again, ROCHFORD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. K Teetan (LIGHTNING MISSILE) was fined $2,000 for failing to present himself in the Parade Ring by the required time. As the start was effected, LOTUS BREEZE stood flat-footed and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, LOTUS BREEZE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. GUERDON HELMET was crowded for room on jumping between LUCKY STORM and NEVER BETTER, both of which shifted ground. In this incident, LUCKY STORM became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by GUERDON HELMET. MASSIVE MILLENNIUM began awkwardly. SUREWIN began only fairly. GAINFULJET shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of SOCCER BRAVE. C Schofield (MASSIVE MILLENNIUM) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 1300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of LUCKY STORM, causing that horse to be checked 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 Wednesday, 29 May 2019 and to expire on Monday, 3 June 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, C Schofield was fined $40,000. After the 1200 Metres, KEEP GOING got its head on the side and lay in. KEEP GOING then shifted out near the 1100 Metres, resulting in SUREWIN being awkwardly placed behind that horse. After the 1000 Metres, SOCCER BRAVE was left racing wide and without cover. GODSPEED lost its left front plate after the 1000 Metres. When the tempo of the race slowed after the 800 Metres, GODSPEED was steadied away from the heels of MAJESTIC ENDEAVOUR. NEVER BETTER, which was following GODSPEED, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. At the same stage, SUREWIN, which was travelling keenly, was awkwardly placed behind KEEP GOING. MASSIVE MILLENNIUM, which was following SUREWIN, shifted out away from the heels of that horse passing the 700 Metres, resulting in GUERDON HELMET, which was following, being hampered. Near the 350 Metres, MASSIVE MILLENNIUM was shifted to the inside of SOCCER BRAVE after being disappointed for running outside that horse. At the 200 Metres, LUCKY STORM, SOCCER BRAVE and NEVER BETTER were inconvenienced as SUREWIN improved to the outside of KEEP GOING which was taken out by LEISURED FEET. Passing the 50 Metres, GODSPEED was shifted out away from the heels of LEISURED FEET. When questioned, W L Ho stated that in the early part of the Straight he was able to shift SUREWIN into clear running outside KEEP GOING. He said approaching the 300 Metres SUREWIN commenced to shift in under pressure and he commenced to change the whip from his left hand into his right hand. He said as he did this his whip became entangled in SUREWIN’s mane and in his reins which resulted in him taking some time to be able to draw the whip through properly into the right hand. He said as a result of this SUREWIN shifted in behind KEEP GOING and he was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse passing the 250 Metres. He said when being shifted to the outside of KEEP GOING near the 200 Metres, that horse drifted out which resulted in him having to shift further ground to obtain clear running to the outside of KEEP GOING near the 175 Metres. When questioned, Z Purton stated that it was intended for LUCKY STORM to either lead the race or obtain a position behind the speed. He said LUCKY STORM began only fairly and then became unbalanced after racing tight outside GUERDON HELMET in the early stages. He said because of this LUCKY STORM was not able to be ridden in a forward position as had been hoped and he therefore elected to obtain a position with cover on LUCKY STORM rather than continue to pursue a forward position as he did not believe that LUCKY STORM was travelling well enough to be able to be ridden along at this time. He said after being checked passing the 1300 Metres, LUCKY STORM commenced to prove very difficult to settle and would not relax for him. He said the horse commenced to hang out when continuing to over-race near the 1100 Metres and particularly making the turn after the 900 Metres. He added when the tempo of the race slackened in the middle stages, LUCKY STORM travelled even more keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of SOCCER BRAVE near the 750 Metres. He said he shifted LUCKY STORM to the outside of SOCCER BRAVE and allowed that horse to improve its position in the hope that LUCKY STORM would relax better after the 700 Metres, however, the horse continued to lay out and then rounding the Home Turn was forced wider. He said LUCKY STORM was not responding to his riding in the early part of the Straight and then after the 200 Metres was hampered when taken wider, however, at this time the horse was already well beaten. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY STORM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. The performance of LUCKY STORM, favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY STORM will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial around a bend and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ROOKIE STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY STORM, NEVER BETTER and SUREWIN were sent for sampling.