12/02/2022  Shatin  Race 5

After being loaded into the barriers, FLYING SEASON became very fractious, reared on a number of occasions and on one occasion momentarily got its left front leg over the front barrier partition. FLYING SEASON then began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of CHEVAL VALIANT, resulting in CHEVAL VALIANT becoming unbalanced and FLYING SEASON losing ground. Before being allowed to race again, FLYING SEASON will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Just prior to the start being effected, WONDERFUL HORSE became fractious and turned its head to the left, resulting in WONDERFUL HORSE beginning only fairly. ACA POWER lost is left front plate on jumping. FLYING HIGH was hampered shortly after the start by SUPER CLASS which shifted out after being bumped by THE GOOD DEAL. Passing the 600 Metres, KOWLOON EAST STAR was awkwardly placed behind GLENEALY GENERALS. Approaching the 500 Metres, GLENEALY GENERALS was steadied away from the heels of KA YING LUCKY after racing close to the heels of that horse. After the 500 Metres, FLYING SEASON got its head on the side and lay in when racing greenly. Near the 400 Metres, SPICY SO GOOD was steadied when crowded for room between KA YING LUCKY and INFINITY WIN which lay in. In this incident, SPICY SO GOOD and KA YING LUCKY bumped, resulting in KA YING LUCKY also being hampered. At the 150 Metres, HAPPY GOOD GUYS raced tight inside GLENEALY GENERALS which shifted to the inside of SUPER CLASS to continue improving. Passing the 50 Metres, ACA POWER raced tight outside HAPPY GOOD GUYS which was racing tight outside the heels of FLYING SEASON. Close to the finishing line, GLENEALY GENERALS shifted in and brushed CHEVAL VALIANT. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if KOWLOON EAST STAR had been afforded a fair start. Evidence was taken from Jockey R Maia, Mr K H Ting, trainer of KOWLOON EAST STAR, and Mr A Speechley, Starter. After taking evidence from all parties and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that when the start was delayed momentarily as a result of FLYING SEASON being fractious in the barriers, KOWLOON EAST STAR, which was being assisted by a starting gate handler, had a blindfold applied for longer than it otherwise would have. Then as the gates opened, KOWLOON EAST STAR still had the blindfold applied before being removed just after the start was effected. This resulted in KOWLOON EAST STAR, which normally races in a forward position, being very slow to begin and losing a number of lengths. As the Stewards formed the view that the blindfold remained applied to KOWLOON EAST STAR as the start was effected and having regard to the horse’s normal racing pattern, they ruled that KOWLOON EAST STAR had not been afforded a fair start and accordingly the horse was declared a non-runner. When questioned regarding the performance of KA YING LUCKY, which was having its first race start today, Z Purton stated that in its barrier trials in the lead up to today’s race, in his opinion, KA YING LUCKY had performed best when not having to be ridden behind horses. He said he therefore rode his mount along in the early stages in an attempt to obtain the lead on KA YING LUCKY. He said despite being ridden along, CHEVAL VALIANT showed more early speed than KA YING LUCKY and he was not able to avoid being crossed by that horse after the 500 Metres. He said prior to this KA YING LUCKY had been reluctant to stretch out when racing between SPICY SO GOOD and CHEVAL VALIANT and already in the early stages of the race he had concerns with the manner in which KA YING LUCKY was travelling. He said after being crossed by CHEVAL VALIANT, KA YING LUCKY immediately came off the bridle and although the horse raced tight inside SPICY SO GOOD near the 400 Metres, it was already well beaten at this time. He added that after continuing to place KA YING LUCKY under pressure after the 400 Metres, the horse gave ground noticeably over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of KA YING LUCKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of KA YING LUCKY, favourite for today’s race and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, KA YING LUCKY 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 SUPER CLASS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SPICY SO GOOD immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SPICY SO GOOD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KA YING LUCKY, GLENEALY GENERALS and FLYING SEASON were sent for sampling.