05/01/2022  Happy Valley  Race 9

At the time of declaration, C L Chau did not declare any overweight on CINQUANTE CINQ. C L Chau then weighed out l lb overweight before weighing in after the race 2 lbs overweight. Jockey Chau was fined the sum of $7,500. VINCY and SAVVY KINGMAN bumped at the start. WORLD FAMOUS shifted in shortly after the start and inconvenienced GIFT OF LIFELINE. From the outside barrier, ROMANTIC COMBO was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1600 Metres, FLYING TURBO was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of WEALTHY DELIGHT which itself was racing tight inside SAVVY KINGMAN. Near the 1500 Metres, FAST PACE was momentarily crowded for room inside THE ANOMALY (M L Yeung) which was then directed out abruptly to relieve the tightening to FAST PACE. M L Yeung was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Making the turn near the 550 Metres, SAVVY KINGMAN raced tight outside FAST PACE which commenced to shift to the outside of WORLD FAMOUS. THE ANOMALY got its head on the side and lay out rounding the Home Turn, resulting in WORLD FAMOUS being crowded for room outside THE ANOMALY and inside FAST PACE. In this incident, WORLD FAMOUS and FAST PACE bumped. Approaching the 150 Metres, C L Chau dropped his whip. As this was the 5th occasion this season that Jockey Chau had dropped his whip in races, he was fined the sum of $5,000. Approaching the 100 Metres, SAVVY KINGMAN and TIANCHI MONSTER bumped. When questioned regarding the performance of CHAMPION DRAGON, C Y Ho stated that it was intended for the horse to be ridden behind the leaders if possible from barrier 3. He said after becoming fractious in the barriers, CHAMPION DRAGON did not begin well, shifted out and was awkwardly placed inside the hindquarters FLYING TURBO. He said CHAMPION DRAGON was then crowded for room between FLYING TURBO and CINQUANTE CINQ which was taken out by FAST PACE and this resulted in CHAMPION DRAGON having to race much further back in the field than had been anticipated. He said passing the winning post on the first occasion CHAMPION DRAGON commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. He said after this CHAMPION DRAGON continued to travel keenly and got its head up when having to be steadied away from the heels of FLYING TURBO. He said whilst the pace of the race in the middle stages was only average, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of CHAMPION DRAGON to allow his mount to improve around runners as this would have resulted in CHAMPION DRAGON having to race wide and without cover. He added he attempted to have CHAMPION DRAGON relax better along the Back Straight, however, the horse continued to over-race and would not relax. He said when the tempo of the race increased near the 600 Metres, CHAMPION DRAGON was left flat-footed and then despite being ridden along rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight did not respond to his riding. He added, in his opinion, CHAMPION DRAGON’s performance tonight was attributable to the horse not being able to settle when required to be ridden back in the field due to the circumstances in the early stages. A veterinary inspection of CHAMPION DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of CHAMPION DRAGON, favourite for tonight’s race and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CHAMPION DRAGON will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, A Badel (WEALTHY DELIGHT) stated that his mount travelled satisfactorily until after the 700 Metres at which point the horse came under immediate pressure. He said, despite being ridden along, WEALTHY DELIGHT would not respond to his riding and was reluctant to maintain its position. He said he continued to ride his mount along rounding the Home Turn, however, WEALTHY DELIGHT gave ground and then weakened out of the race in the Straight. He added when giving ground in the Straight, WEALTHY DELIGHT’s action shortened noticeably. A veterinary inspection of WEALTHY DELIGHT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, WEALTHY DELIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CHAMPION DRAGON, CINQUANTE CINQ and TIANCHI MONSTER were sent for sampling.