30/10/2022  Happy Valley  Race 7

On jumping, COPARTNER ELITES bounded in the air and as a result lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, COPARTNER ELITES will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. SUPER OASIS and FIVE G PATCH bumped heavily at the start. NATURAL STORM turned its head to the left as the start was effected and consequently began only fairly. After this, NATURAL STORM was ridden along to make up ground and making the first turn near the 2000 Metres was awkwardly placed inside the heels of ABOVE. From wide barriers, NEARLY FINE and S J TOURBILLON were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Making the turn near the 1800 Metres, NATURAL STORM got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of BLASTOISE. Passing the 300 Metres, BLASTOISE was shifted in away from the heels of SUPER OASIS to continue improving. Then passing the 150 Metres, BLASTOISE raced tight between SUPER OASIS and NATURAL STORM which commenced to shift to the outside of HIT THE SHOT. A Hamelin (HIT THE SHOT) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the concluding stages he permitted his mount to shift out when using the whip, resulting in NATURAL STORM being hampered and taken out across BLASTOISE which was checked and lost its rightful running. A Hamelin was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 12 November 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 17 November 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Hamelin’s good race riding record. Close to the finishing line, FIVE G PATCH was brushed by SUPER OASIS which was racing tight outside BLASTOISE as that horse was being checked. Because of this, both SUPER OASIS and FIVE G PATCH were not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Passing the winning post, NATURAL STORM raced tight between HIT THE SHOT and ABOVE which shifted in under pressure. When shifting in under pressure, ABOVE was corrected by its rider close to the finishing line. This resulted in both ABOVE and NATURAL STORM not being able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. After the race, L Hewitson stated that S J TOURBILLON travelled well in the early and middle stages and after shifting to the outside of ABOVE in the early part of the Straight initially quickened satisfactorily. He said however that S J TOURBILLON’s run ended after the 200 Metres and the horse then did not finish the race off over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of S J TOURBILLON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding his riding of FIVE G PATCH after the 1300 Metres, A Badel stated that he was able to obtain a trailing position behind ABOVE approaching the 1800 Metres. He said when being shifted across behind that horse, FIVE G PATCH travelled keenly and was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of ABOVE. He said the pace of the race passing the winning post on the first occasion was very slow and as he had been provided with instructions allowing him to make a forward move on FIVE G PATCH along the Back Straight, he elected after the 1300 Metres to shift out from behind ABOVE and commenced to improve his position. He said whilst this was earlier in the race than anticipated, he felt that the race was being run at a sufficiently slow tempo to allow FIVE G PATCH the opportunity to improve its position with a view to racing outside the lead and that he would be able to do this without having to ride FIVE G PATCH. He added that after shifting out and commencing to improve, the tempo of the race increased noticeably and FIVE G PATCH was not travelling well enough to continue its forward move. He said this resulted in FIVE G PATCH racing wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. After having considered Jockey Badel’s explanation and having regard to the sectionals of the race which supported that the tempo of the race prior to the 1200 Metres was very slow and in contrast quickened noticeably after the 1200 Metres, the Stewards took no further action other than to advise Jockey Badel that his explanation would be reported. A veterinary inspection of COPARTNER ELITES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. COPARTNER ELITES, HIT THE SHOT and ABOVE were sent for sampling.