11/05/2019  Shatin  Race 4

SPEEDY MISSILE lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently began very awkwardly and lost ground. SPEEDY MISSILE was then steadied away from the heels of FARM BUMPER which was taken in by HUMBLE STEED which shifted in after being bumped by GLENEALY GENERALS. A short distance after this, FARM BUMPER, which continued to race tight inside HUMBLE STEED, was checked when crowded for room between HUMBLE STEED and BEST FOR YOU which shifted out. SUPER EURO STAR began awkwardly and lost ground. After this, SUPER EURO STAR was ridden along for some distance to obtain a forward position. LITTLE WISE MAN was crowded for room on jumping between NEW DYNAMIC and FORTUNE HAPPINESS which shifted out. After this, FORTUNE HAPPINESS and LITTLE WISE MAN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 950 Metres, FORTUNE HAPPINESS raced tight between NEW DYNAMIC and GLENEALY GENERALS which shifted out when travelling keenly. Passing the 950 Metres, SPEEDY MISSILE momentarily raced tight inside LITTLE WISE MAN. Then making the turn at the 900 Metres, SPEEDY MISSILE, which was racing greenly, got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of LITTLE WISE MAN which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FARM BUMPER which made the turn awkwardly and then was checked away from the heels of BEST FOR YOU. Then passing the 800 Metres, FARM BUMPER commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out when being checked away from the heels of FORTUNE HAPPINESS, resulting in HUMBLE STEED being bumped and taken wider. LITTLE WISE MAN, which was following FARM BUMPER, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. GLENEALY GENERALS got its head up when making the turn after the 900 Metres awkwardly. Near the 650 Metres, SPEEDY MISSILE, which continued to race greenly, became unbalanced when reluctant to improve its position inside FARM BUMPER which continued to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed behind FORTUNE HAPPINESS. After the 650 Metres and particularly rounding the Home Turn, ISLAND WINNER, which travelled wide and without cover throughout the race, lay out and then in the Straight gave ground. Rounding the Home Turn, GLENEALY GENERALS was bumped by SUPER MODEL which raced tight outside NICE FANDANGO which got its head on the side and lay out. W L Ho (LITTLE WISE MAN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that at the 350 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HUMBLE STEED, causing that horse to be severely checked when crowded for room between LITTLE WISE MAN and NEW DYNAMIC and when being severely checked bumping with NEW DYNAMIC which was also hampered. W L Ho was advised that the Stewards did give consideration to issuing a charge of reckless riding, however, in all of the circumstances believed that careless riding was an appropriate charge. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration the high level of carelessness exhibited by Jockey Ho in this incident and the significant interference suffered by HUMBLE STEED. The Stewards ruled that the appropriate penalty was for W L Ho’s licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to commence on Sunday, 26 May 2019 and to expire on Sunday, 9 June 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (5 Hong Kong racedays). When LITTLE WISE MAN shifted in, that horse then became awkwardly placed outside the heels of ISLAND WINNER which also shifted out. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SUPER MODEL at the request of Trainer C S Shum. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER MODEL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ISLAND WINNER and SUPER EURO STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GLENEALY GENERALS and LITTLE WISE MAN were sent for sampling.