Recap by phillip woo

Happilababy settled four back along the fence, stayed to the inside upon straightening and quickened well to win going away 150m out with his favourite rider Zac Purton back in the saddle. Happy Rocky settled one off the fence in midfield, briefly hit the front five deep at the 220m and found one too smart in the end. Allcash made the wrong decision to come off the fence following a rails run three back and wasn't able to gain a clear run until the winner went by 180m out. He should have made it closer for second. Full Glory finished well to get up in the final few metres for fourth after being held up for a good part of the straight following a patient ride near the back. He needs to be kept safe when next stepping out over this trip or the 2,200m. Ashkiyr made some ground without menacing with two wider out after travelling fourth from the rear.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (513)-THE HONG KONG LIONS CUP (HANDICAP) - Class 3 - 2000Metres

LUCKY OMENS was slow to begin.

EAGLE POWER shifted in at the start and bumped JOLLY GENE.

From wide barriers, FULL GLORY, ADMIRAL LORD and ASHKIYR were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

After passing the winning post on the first occasion, HAPPY ROCKY momentarily raced tight inside JOLLY GENE which got its head on the side and shifted in away from TRIUMPHANT DRAGON.

After the 1700 Metres, EAGLE POWER was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1200 Metres was allowed to stride forward to race outside the lead.

After the 1000 Metres, LUCKY OMENS was left racing wide and without cover.

After the 800 Metres, ADMIRAL LORD was eased down.

A veterinary inspection of ADMIRAL LORD immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm.

Before being allowed to race again, ADMIRAL LORD will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON and MIDNITE PROMISE raced tight as TRIUMPHANT DRAGON attempted to shift out into clear running.

TRIUMPHANT DRAGON was then held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight.

Passing the 200 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON and EAGLE POWER were crowded for room between UNIQUE HAPPIEST which was taken out by HAPPILABABY and MIDNITE PROMISE which, when giving ground, got its head on the side and shifted in away from HAPPY ROCKY.

FULL GLORY was badly held up for clear running from near the 300 Metres until approaching the 100 Metres.

CHINA DELIGHT was held up for clear running from prior to the 200 Metres until after the 100 Metres.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MIDNITE PROMISE, C Schofield stated that in accordance with his instructions he obtained a forward position on the horse.

He said the tempo of the race in the early and middle stags was quicker than he anticipated, nonetheless MIDNITE PROMISE continued to travel satisfactorily and he was able to obtain a position with cover behind EAGLE POWER when that horse improved around MIDNITE PROMISE after the 1200 Metres.

He said MIDNITE PROMISE came under pressure after the 600 Metres and after becoming unbalanced when bumped by TRIUMPHANT DRAGON rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, MIDNITE PROMISE then gave ground and was disappointing.

A veterinary inspection of MIDNITE PROMISE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

The performance of MIDNITE PROMISE, a favourite for this race, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, MIDNITE PROMISE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

The Stewards questioned K Teetan regarding his riding of ALLCASH, particularly after the 600 Metres.

K Teetan stated that he had been instructed, from barrier 2, to take a trailing position behind the anticipated leader of the race UNIQUE HAPPIEST.

He said after being able to obtain this position, ALLCASH then travelled well during the race.

He said prior to the 500 Metres he was racing behind TRIUMPHANT DRAGON and slightly away from the running rail.

He said when TRIUMPHANT DRAGON attempted to shift out passing the 500 Metres, he looked to his inside to ensure that no runner had improved to his inside and after doing so he shifted ALLCASH back towards the rail.

He said rounding the Home turn and at the entrance to the Straight he was aware that UNIQUE HAPPIEST was racing near the rail and he noted that EAGLE POWER, which was racing to the outside of that horse, had come under heavy pressure.

He said as TRIUMPHANT DRAGON was attempting to shift MIDNITE PROMISE out at this stage, he felt the most likely avenue to improve was advancing to the outside of UNIQUE HAPPIEST when EAGLE POWER commenced to give ground.

He said therefore he shifted ALLCASH out with TRIUMPHANT DRAGON in order to improve into the run when EAGLE POWER gave ground.

He said as he was doing this he was initially unaware that UNIQUE HAPPIEST had shifted away from the rail which had created a tight run to the inside of that horse.

He added passing the 400 Metres he looked to his inside to ascertain whether it was available for him to shift ALLCASH to the inside of UNIQUE HAPPIEST to take advantage of that run, however, at this time he received a loud call from Z Purton, the rider of HAPPILABABY, and as he could see that horse improving to his inside, he did not believe that it was available to him to shift ALLCASH in as he was concerned that he would have caused interference to that horse and therefore, on safety grounds, he remained racing one horse off the rail behind UNIQUE HAPPIEST.

He said HAPPILABABY then advanced quickly to the inside of ALLCASH and he had another look to his inside near the 350 Metres to ascertain how quickly HAPPILABABY was improving its position so that he could shift across behind that horse and follow it through inside UNIQUE HAPPIEST.

Mr A T Millard, the trainer of ALLCASH, confirmed the instructions given to Jockey Teetan.

He said after the race he questioned K Teetan regarding him not shifting in from behind UNIQUE HAPPIEST after the 400 Metres as he believed that it may have been available for Jockey Teetan to have done so at this time.

After viewing the video of the race, Mr Millard confirmed that it was available for Jockey Teetan to shift ALLCASH in at that time and stated that, in his opinion, Jockey Teetan had erred in failing to immediately shift ALLCASH in after the 400 Metres prior to HAPPILABABY improving to the inside of ALLCASH.

After viewing the video, K Teetan conceded that he had made an error of judgement by not shifting in after the 400 Metres, however, he reiterated that during the race he believed that HAPPILABABY was in a position to be racing inside the heels of ALLCASH.

After considering the evidence and the circumstances of his riding of ALLCASH, particularly after entering the Straight, the Stewards advised Jockey Teetan that they had considered issuing a charge against him for breaching a significant Rule of Racing, however, in the circumstances, having regard to the manner in which HAPPILABABY improved quickly to be racing inside the heels of ALLCASH, the Stewards believed that it was not appropriate for him to be charged over this aspect of his riding.

Nonetheless he was severely reprimanded and advised that he must ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner as to be able to improve their position as runs become available so that there can be no doubts as to his intentions to win or to obtain the best possible placing.

A veterinary inspection of ALLCASH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

MIDNITE PROMISE, HAPPILABABY and HAPPY ROCKY were sent for sampling.