02/04/2023  Shatin  Race 2

FANTASY SPRING was withdrawn on 31.3.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter CALL ME LU (H T Mo). SUPER CLASS was withdrawn on 31.3.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetence) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter STRIVE FOR GLORY (S De Sousa). DASHING GENIUS was also withdrawn on 31.3.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, SUPER CLASS and DASHING GENIUS will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A Hamelin (HEAVENLY THOUGHT) was fined the sum of $5,000 for a breach of Rule 89(2) in that he changed his riding boots after weighing out. On jumping, SMILING MOON shifted out and brushed INSPIRING CITY. CALL ME LU jumped awkwardly and from a wide barrier raced keenly when being shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Shortly after the start, HAPPILY FRIENDS shifted out and away from INSPIRING CITY, resulting in ALL IS READY being crowded for room between HANDSOME GUYS and HAPPILY FRIENDS. Also shortly after the start, HANDSOME GUYS was hampered when crowded by HAPPY FOREVER which shifted in and away from HEAVENLY THOUGHT. From the outside barrier, ENCORE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 350 Metres, INSPIRING CITY raced tight to the inside of HAPPY FOREVER when shifting to the outside of SMILING MOON to secure clear running, resulting in INSPIRING CITY and HAPPY FOREVER making contact. Near the 300 Metres, HAPPILY FRIENDS became held up behind SMILING MOON when that runner commenced to weaken. Then passing the 300 Metres, HAPPILY FRIENDS (M Chadwick) improved into a narrow run between SMILING MOON and INSPIRING CITY where there was doubtful room. A short distance later, SMILING MOON then shifted out, resulting in HAPPILY FRIENDS being taken out, making contact with INSPIRING CITY, crowding that runner out onto HAPPY FOREVER which further resulted in HAPPY FOREVER shifting out across the running of ALL IS READY which was steadied. M Chadwick was reprimanded and advised to ensure that there is sufficient racing room for his mounts to improve in similar circumstances. In assessing penalty, the Stewards acknowledged that as HAPPILY FRIENDS shifted to the outside of SMILING MOON, that runner shifted out as it was giving ground which contributed to the interference suffered by the runners to the outside of HAPPILY FRIENDS. After the race, K C Leung (HAPPY FOREVER) stated that his mount was obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event and as a consequence did not finish the race off as expected. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY FOREVER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, Z Purton (INSPIRING CITY) stated that whilst the horse was hampered on several occasions in the Straight, he could offer no additional excuse for the disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of INSPIRING CITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Following the race, S De Sousa (STRIVE FOR GLORY) reported that his mount lay in when placed under pressure in the Straight and proved difficult to ride out. A veterinary inspection of HANDSOME GUYS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. INSPIRING CITY, THE GOOD DEAL and DAY DAY RICH were sent for sampling.