03/02/2021  Happy Valley  Race 5

Just prior to the start being effected, FORTUNE HAPPINESS lunged at the front gates, then became unbalanced and consequently was slow to begin. BRAVE KING began only fairly. WIND GLIDER lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and made contact with KING DRAGON which was inconvenienced. SPEEDY OPTIMIST and LUCKY DIAMOND made contact on jumping. LUCKY DIAMOND was then steadied and shifted across behind runners. N Callan (CHATER PINS) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of WIND GLIDER, resulting in that horse being taken in and crowded onto FORTUNE HAPPINESS which as a consequence was severely checked and in turn tightened onto BRAVE KING which was also hampered. When FORTUNE HAPPINESS was severely checked, KING DRAGON was also checked and shifted out abruptly away from the heels of FORTUNE HAPPINESS, resulting in SUPERBELLA being severely hampered and forced wider. N Callan was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 4 March 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey Callan was fined $20,000. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account the severity of the interference sustained by FORTUNE HAPPINESS and the number of other runners that were hampered. When CHATER PINS was being directed out to relieve the tightening to runners to its inside after the 1300 Metres, it made heavy contact with THUNDER STOMP which was also shifting in, resulting in both horses becoming badly unbalanced and THUNDER STOMP shifting out and running wide. SPEEDY OPTIMIST, which was following, was also inconvenienced. At the 300 Metres, MALDIVES was steadied when initially unable to improve into tight running between THUNDER STOMP and SPEEDY OPTIMIST. When questioned regarding an incident which occurred at the 125 Metres where MALDIVES (Z Purton) lost momentum when racing in the lead, Z Purton stated that after obtaining the lead, he was about to test the horse with the whip, however, MALDIVES appeared to shy at something and shifted out and as it caught him by surprise, he lost balance and MALDIVES lost all momentum. A veterinary inspection of MALDIVES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Given that MALDIVES had never previously raced in this manner, Trainer D J Hall was advised that a warning would be placed on the horse in respect of its racing manners and the Stewards will closely monitor its racing manners at its future starts and any repetition may result in action being taken against it. After the race, it was reported that WIND GLIDER had been galloped on the right hind leg. A veterinary inspection of FORTUNE HAPPINESS, which commenced to lose ground prior to the Home Turn and was subsequently eased down in the Straight, immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in both front legs. The performance of FORTUNE HAPPINESS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FORTUNE HAPPINESS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of CHATER PINS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SPEEDY OPTIMIST immediately following the race found that horse to be galloped on the left front leg. KING DRAGON and KIRAM were sent for sampling.