26/04/2023  Happy Valley  Race 2

SNOWALOT shifted out at the start and made contact with MELBOURNE HALL which became unbalanced. BEAUTY TURN and KING ECCELLENTE jumped only fairly. BEAUTY TURN then raced wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres. CRAIG’S MASTER jumped awkwardly, got its head up and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, KASI FARASI was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. FLAMING PASSION raced keenly in the middle stages. CRAIG’S MASTER also raced keenly in the middle stages and near the 800 Metres was steadied away from the heels of MELBOURNE HALL. GET THE MONIES was left racing wide and without cover from the 600 Metres. S De Sousa (MR VALIANT) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that making the Home Turn he directed his mount to shift out when not clear of FLAMING PASSION, resulting in MR VALIANT making heavy contact with FLAMING PASSION, causing FLAMING PASSION to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. In the circumstances, S De Sousa was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 and to expire on Thursday, 25 May 2023 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey De Sousa was fined $120,000. MELBOURNE HALL was held up making the Home Turn. Near the 300 Metres, MELBOURNE HALL was shifted out to obtain clear running, resulting in CRAIG’S MASTER being steadied when disappointed for clear running between MR VALIANT and MELBOURNE HALL (L Ferraris) which shifted out. L Ferraris was advised to exercise more care. Between the 300 Metres and the 200 Metres, KASI FARASI had some difficulty obtaining clear running. When questioned regarding his riding of SUPER ELITE, K C Leung advised his instructions, from the outside barrier with his mount having its first start, were to endeavour to find cover in a midfield position. He said when caught wide in the early stages and when GET THE MONIES made the first turn awkwardly, SUPER ELITE was taken out slightly and as a result he elected to restrain his mount to obtain cover whereby SUPER ELITE settled at the rear of the field. He added that SUPER ELITE raced greenly in the middle stages and shortly after straightening he shifted SUPER ELITE to the inside of CRAIG’S MASTER to secure clear running and then pulled his whip through to his right hand when his mount commenced to lay in slightly. He said once balanced near the 200 Metres he commenced to apply full pressure to his mount, however, SUPER ELITE lay out near the 150 Metres and for this reason he pulled his whip through to the left hand whereby he was able to continue to ride his mount out strongly to the finish of the event. After the race, K H Chan (LUCKY QUALITY) reported that his saddle shifted to the right side shortly after the start, placing him at a disadvantage. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY TURN and MR VALIANT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SNOWALOT and MELBOURNE HALL were sent for sampling.