Recap by phillip woo

Bold Stitch quickened nicely following a midfield run to get up 50m out in a blanket finish to make it back-to-back following a switch to the Valley. He's found a new lease of life over this course and might have the tools to win another. Back In Black closed nicely from behind midfield to make it a thriller. He was well rated on the back of 79-rated win not long ago and did have the tongue-tie and crossed nose band removed for this run. Gamechangers let down very well after a deep run in midfield it very tight on the line. He's run well four times over this Valley trip and can breakthrough soon. Jolly Convergence came on well down the outside after settling third from the rear to fill a Quartet spot. He did trial better recently in cheek pieces so a positive run was no surprise. Exceptional Desire was swamped late after taking the lead from Smart Declaration 200m out in a pleasing first run in the grade. He's one to keep safe if he can draw closer to the rails.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (390) - TAI HANG TUNG HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

From the outside barrier, FORTUNE BOOTH was steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover.

ALCARI shifted out at the start and bumped JOLLY CONVERGENCE.

Then from a wide barrier, ALCARI was shifted across behind runners shortly after the start.

HEALTHY LUCK began awkwardly.

FANTASTIC FEELING was crowded for room shortly after the start between G-ONE LOVER which got its head its head on the side and shifted out and BACK IN BLACK which was taken in by GAMECHANGERS.

Making the turn passing the 1000 Metres, FORTUNE BOOTH momentarily raced tight inside ALCARI which was racing tight inside JOLLY CONVERGENCE.

Passing the 900 Metres, FANTASTIC FEELING commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of BOLD STITCH.

Approaching the 700 Metres, FANTASTIC FEELING again got its head up when having to be checked away from the heels of BOLD STITCH when continuing to travel keenly.

FORTUNE BOOTH, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of FANTASTIC FEELING in consequence.

Shortly after entering the Straight, EXTREMELY FUN was shifted in away from the heels of SMART DECLARATION to obtain clear running.

A Badel (BOLD STITCH) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 100 Metres he directed his mount to the outside of EXCEPTIONAL DESIRE into running between that horse and HEALTHY LUCK where there was insufficient room, resulting in HEALTHY LUCK being severely checked when crowded for room between BOLD STITCH and BACK IN BLACK which became unbalanced due to making contact with HEALTHY LUCK.

A Badel was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 21 February 2018 and to expire on Monday, 26 February 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration that there were a number of circumstances associated with this incident.

After this, BACK IN BLACK raced tight inside GAMECHANGERS which shifted in, resulting in BACK IN BLACK and GAMECHANGERS bumping near the 75 Metres.

Passing the 150 Metres, ALCARI was severely checked when disappointed for running between HEALTHY LUCK and BOLD STITCH.

When ALCARI was checked, that horse shifted in and bumped FANTASTIC FEELING which was crowded for room between ALCARI and FORTUNE BOOTH.

After this, FORTUNE BOOTH was unable to obtain clear running and over the concluding stages was checked away from the heels of SMART DECLARATION when racing tight inside FANTASTIC FEELING.

Over the concluding stages, BACK IN BLACK lay in under pressure and made contact with BOLD STITCH passing the winning post.

Close to the finishing line, FANTASTIC FEELING was checked away from the heels of EXCEPTIONAL DESIRE which got its head on the side and shifted in after being brushed by BOLD STITCH.

SMART DECLARATION, which was racing to the inside of FANTASTIC FEELING, was bumped by that horse and then raced tight inside FANTASTIC FEELING passing the winning post.

After the race, Apprentice M F Poon was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of G-ONE LOVER.

He stated that G-ONE LOVER travelled comfortably in the middle stages, however, when placed under pressure in the Straight did not finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of G-ONE LOVER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Following the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that BACK IN BLACK had sustained minor cuts to the right hind pastern and left front fetlock.

BOLD STITCH and BACK IN BLACK were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

28 January 2018 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 10 (382) The Stewards tonight inquired into a report submitted by Dr P Curl, Executive Manager, Veterinary Regulation regarding LADY FIRST (B13), trained by Mr M J Freedman, which competed in this race.

Evidence was taken from Mr Freedman, Dr P Curl, Mr K W Lee, head lad, and Mr K H Tsang, stables assistant allocated to Mr Freedman's stable.

It was established that on return to the stable following being sampled as a result of finishing second in this race, Mr Tsang detected a small amount of blood in the left nostril of LADY FIRST.

Mr Freedman was then advised at about 7:50 pm that night that the stables assistant had noted there to be a small amount of blood in this nostril.

Mr Freedman tonight gave evidence that as the blood was only present at one nostril and that he was informed that there was only a small amount of blood, he made the decision not to report the matter at that time, but rather to report it to his Veterinary Surgeon the following day.

Mr Freedman advised the Stewards that he was unaware of the obligation to inform Officials of blood at one nostril, rather than at both nostrils, however, readily admitted that he should have been aware of this requirement.

Dr A Kelly, the Veterinary Surgeon allocated to Mr Freedman's stable, was subsequently informed the following day of the blood being present at one nostril with Dr Kelly then further reporting the matter to Dr Curl.

Dr Curl informed the Stewards that he conducted an endoscopic examination of LADY FIRST at about 4:20 pm on the afternoon of Monday, 29 January 2018.

He said that there was no evidence of blood or blood tinged fluid in the trachea of LADY FIRST at that time of examination and further that there was no evidence of any obvious external injury to the head or nostril.

Dr Curl provided an opinion that for blood to have been present at the nostril of a horse, in an overwhelming majority of cases, this would be as a result of grade 3 or grade 4 blood being present in the trachea.

He said it is his experience that any horse which has been found to have bled as a result of having grade 3 or grade 4 blood in the trachea would still have evidence of blood or blood tinged fluid in the trachea the following day.

Further, Dr Curl informed the Stewards that LADY FIRST had been subject to six endoscopic examinations since being imported into Hong Kong, the majority of which were performed after galloping and that no blood had previously been detected.

Having regard to Dr Curl's evidence which was supported by Dr B D Stewart, Head of Veterinary Regulation and Biosecurity Policy and the fact that when LADY FIRST was sampled post-race, there was no evidence of blood in the nostril, the Stewards found that there was not sufficient evidence to rule that LADY FIRST had bled following the race and accordingly that horse was deemed not to have bled.

Mr Freedman was advised however that to ensure all welfare and safety issues are accommodated, before being permitted to race again, LADY FIST must undergo an endoscopic examination after galloping in track work and then must undergo a barrier trial and an official veterinary examination which must include an endoscopic examination by the Department of Veterinary Regulation and Biosecurity Policy.

Mr Freedman accepted that he had erred in not immediately informing Officials that blood had been noted at LADY FIRST's left nostril on return to the stable, however, in mitigation, stated that at no time did he attempt to conceal from Stewards or Veterinary Departments as to the fact that a trace amount of blood was noted; that he had brought this matter to the attention of the Veterinary Surgeon the following day and that he is currently in his first season of training in Hong Kong.

In the circumstances, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for Mr Freedman to be fined the sum of $25,000.

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 28 January 2018 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of GOLDEN CANNON, WINNER ST PAUL'S, GOOD DAYS, MIDNITE PROMISE, EIGHTY EIGHTY, NICE KICK, EVER LAUGH, EVEREST, MARQULA, RADIANT STEED, AFFLUENCE START, WATER DIVINER, BALTIC WHISPER, TURF SPRINT, D B PIN, MR STUNNING, BEAT THE CLOCK, SEASONS BLOOM, FIFTY FIFTY, SERGEANT TITANIUM, RATTAN, UNICRON JEWELLERY, LADY FIRST and SACRED IBIS revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of LUCKY VOLATILITY, THOU SHALL SING, AMRITSARIA, AUDACITY, ROCK THE TREE, HEALTHY JOYFUL, VOLITATION, ENERGETIC CLASS, LUCKY TIME, DESTIN, RED ELYSEES, SUN TOUCH, UNIQUE JOYFUL, INFINITY ENDEAVOUR, CALIFORNIA FORTUNE, MOST BEAUTIFUL, DANCES WITH DRAGON, VERBINSKY, KEY WITNESS, PINGWU SPARK, WAH MAY FRIEND, NOTHINGILIKEMORE, SINGAPORE SLING, CONTE and ROUNDABOUT (21.1.18) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Fines Race 1: K Teetan (SHOWING CHARACTER): $60,000 for careless riding passing the 500 Metres.

General: Trainer M J Freedman (LADY FIRST): $25,000 for not immediately informing Officials that blood had been detected in the horse's left nostril on return to the stable.



2.

Severe Reprimand Race 3: C Y Ho (WIN FOR CHARITY) for shifting in passing the 1400 Metres.

3.

Reprimands Race 2: C Y Ho (WEALTHY FORTUNE) for shifting in after the 1200 Metres.

Z Purton (SAVANNAH WIND) for shifting in passing the 600 Metres.

Race 7: O Doleuze (PERPETUAL JOYANCE) for shifting out passing the 150 Metres.

4.

Warnings Race 3: K C Ng (MONEY WINNER) for shifting out for some distance approaching the 100 Metres.

M Chadwick (HAR HAR HEART) for shifting out passing the 100 Metres.

Race 5: T Berry (BEAUTY PRINCE) for shifting out on jumping.

Race 6: J Moreira (BULLISH SMART) for shifting in close to the finishing line.

5.

Suspensions Race 1: K Teetan (SHOWING CHARACTER) for careless riding passing the 500 Metres (from 10 February 2018 until 15 February 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 8: A Badel (BOLD STITCH) for careless riding approaching the 100 Metres (from 21 February 2018 until 26 February 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

6.

Stalls Tests Race 2: AMAZING GOLD WINASWEWISH

7.

Barrier Trials Race 4: DUTCH WINDMILL General: LADY FIRST

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 7: LUCKY WAN FENG General: LADY FIRST