28/12/2022  Happy Valley  Race 8

NABOO LEGEND was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetence). Before being allowed to race again, NABOO LEGEND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ADIOS shifted out on jumping and inconvenienced SEIZING THE MOMENT. EXCELLENT DADDY shifted out at the start and bumped LUCKY EIGHT. After this, from the outside barriers, EXCELLENT DADDY and LUCKY EIGHT were shifted across behind runners. Also from a wide barrier, HIGH RISE SOLDIER was steadied to obtain cover shortly after the start. Making the first turn after the 1100 Metres, ADIOS (S De Sousa) travelled keenly and got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied in an attempt to obtain cover. When unable to obtain a trailing position, ADIOS raced wide and without cover throughout. After the race, S De Sousa stated that ADIOS’ failure to finish the race off tonight was directly attributable to having to race wide when unable to obtain cover. A veterinary inspection of ADIOS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the 900 Metres, HUMBLE STAR got its head up when racing close to the heels of CALIFORNIA CIBLE. At the 300 Metres, HUMBLE STAR shifted out from behind CALIFORNIA CIBLE and brushed ADIOS. Passing the 300 Metres, MAGIC PHOENIX was directed out away from the heels of SEIZING THE MOMENT which shifted out. After the 300 Metres, HERE COMES TED was awkwardly placed inside the heels of NAMJONG SINGS when attempting to improve to the inside of that horse. Approaching and passing the 100 Metres, EXCELLENT DADDY raced tight inside HIGH RISE SOLDIER when improving into tight running between that horse and HARMONY FIRE. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that incidents occurred in the Home Straight which cast sufficient doubt on whether CALIFORNIA CIBLE (Apprentice Y L Chung) should be declared the winner of the race. Subsequently, C L Chau, the rider of HUMBLE STAR, second placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against CALIFORNIA CIBLE alleging interference to his mount in the Straight. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that passing the 200 Metres CALIFORNIA CIBLE shifted out a number of horses, resulting in HUMBLE STAR being taken off its line and being hampered when having to shift out away from the heels of CALIFORNIA CIBLE. The Stewards further found that after straightening near the 150 Metres, CALIFORNIA CIBLE again shifted out near the 75 Metres and bumped HUMBLE STAR. Then close to the finishing line, CALIFORNIA CIBLE again shifted out and bumped HUMBLE STAR. Having regard to the manner in which the two horses were finishing the race off with HUMBLE STAR coming from behind CALIFORNIA CIBLE and with the margin between the horses at the end of the race being a short head, the Stewards were of the opinion that had HUMBLE STAR not been hampered passing the 200 Metres and again near the 75 Metres and to an extent close to the finishing line, HUMBLE STAR would have finished in front of CALIFORNIA CIBLE. Accordingly, the protest/objection was sustained and the placings amended to read No. 11, HUMBLE STAR, 1st; No. 3, CALIFORNIA CIBLE, 2nd; No. 8, LUCKY EIGHT, 3rd; and No. 4, NAMJONG SINGS, 4th. Apprentice Chung was subsequently reprimanded and told that in similar circumstances he must make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on EXCELLENT DADDY at the request of Trainer T P Yung. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, EXCELLENT DADDY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ADIOS, HUMBLE STAR and CALIFORNIA CIBLE were sent for sampling.