22/05/2019  Happy Valley  Race 7

Trainer J Moore was fined the sum of $10,000 for breaching Trainers’ Handbook Regulation 41 in that he entered VICTORY MACHINE (V358) for a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday, 21 May 2019 when that horse was the second Standby Declared Starter for this race. MOST BEAUTIFUL shifted out at the start and bumped FEARLESS FIRE. On jumping, MR GENUINE was bumped by HAPPY TIME which shifted in. ENDEARING began only fairly and then after being ridden along in the early stages was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From the outside barriers, SMART LEADER and WINNING FEELING were also shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. Near the 1050 Metres, SPARKLING DRAGON shifted in and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of MOST BEAUTIFUL. When being steadied to allow TELECOM PUMA to cross, MOST BEAUTIFUL travelled keenly after the 1000 Metres. Passing the 900 Metres, SPARKLING DRAGON commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of MOST BEAUTIFUL. After the 300 Metres, SPARKLING DRAGON was shifted in away from the heels of WINNING SUPREME to obtain clear running. Then passing the 200 Metres, SPARKING DRAGON momentarily lay out towards the heels of WINNING SUPREME. Throughout the race, WINNING SUPREME travelled wide and without cover. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of G van Niekerk (SPARKLING DRAGON), 3rd placegetter, very close to the finishing line did not affect the horse’s finishing position, he was nonetheless reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels to the end of the race where circumstances permit. When questioned regarding the performance of TELECOM PUMA, Z Purton stated that he had to ride his mount along for some distance in the early stages to cross runners to his inside which he was able to do after the 1000 Metres. He said when HAPPY TIME improved its position outside TELECOM PUMA after the 900 Metres, he felt he would have had to ride his mount along in an endeavour to maintain its position inside that horse and as he had already ridden TELECOM PUMA along for some distance in the early stages, he elected to take a trailing position behind HAPPY TIME. He said when he did this, TELECOM PUMA was initially "timid”. He said he was able to shift TELECOM PUMA to the outside of HAPPY TIME at the 400 Metres into clear running, however, when asked to improve between HAPPY TIME and MOST BEAUTIFUL in the early part of the Straight, TELECOM PUMA was reluctant to maintain its position between those horses despite being ridden along. He said then over the concluding stages TELECOM PUMA gave ground. He added he recommended to the connections of TELECOM PUMA after the race that they consider leading on the horse if circumstances permit. A veterinary inspection of TELECOM PUMA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY TIME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TELECOM PUMA, FEARLESS FIRE and SMART LEADER were sent for sampling.