Recap by phillip woo

Invincible Fresh dived late following a deep run with cover in midfield to just get up 30m out for back-to-back wins. He's racing very well but might find things harder next time out near the top of the weights. Lady First was just denied after jumping a lot better to settling one-out, one-back. He's caught the eye in both outings this term and will be saluting shortly. Comfort Life grudgingly gave way after taking the lead from Sun Touch at the 300m stalking the pace from a wide gate. Favourite Noble Steed finished well when only gaining a run peeling off the fence at the 150m following a rail run worse than midfield. Relentless Me was rather one paced following a handy run. He's no world beater but should eventually get away with a race in this grade. Sun Touch gave way over the final 150m after dictating the run. He might be approaching his mark. Specked late Home Run ran on without menacing after a deep run settling beyond midfield from a tricky gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (100) - YEUNG UK HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1400Meters

CHUNG WAH SPIRIT was slow to begin.

Shortly after the start, GOD OF DRAGON and ENFOLDING were crowded for room between SEBFIRE and INVINCIBLE FRESH which shifted out.

After this, GOD OF DRAGON and ENFOLDING were shifted across behind runners.

Z Purton (COMFORT LIFE) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of LADY FIRST, causing that horse to be hampered and taken in across the rightful running of INTREPIC which clipped the heels of LADY FIRST and lost ground.

Z Purton was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 28 October 2018 and to expire on Thursday, 1 November 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Purton's good race riding record.

Approaching the 900 Metres, CHUNG WAH SPIRIT commenced to travel keenly, shifted out and bumped HOME RUN.

Approaching the 600 Metres, SIR REDALOT and HOME RUN raced tight.

Passing the 600 Metres, HOME RUN became unbalanced when checked away from the heels of INVINCIBLE FRESH.

At this time, SIR REDALOT was also awkwardly placed inside the heels of INVINCIBLE FRESH when racing tight outside INTREPIC.

Also passing the 600 Metres, INTREPIC commenced to travel keenly and was checked away from the heels of LADY FIRST.

Near the 250 Metres, NOBLE STEED was steadied when disappointed for running between RELENTLESS ME and SUN TOUCH.

In this incident, RELENTLESS ME became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by NOBLE STEED.

NOBLE STEED was then shifted to the outside of RELENTLESS ME approaching the 150 Metres to obtain clear running.

NOBLE STEED was then momentarily shifted out away from the heels of LADY FIRST passing the 50 Metres.

Over the concluding stages, GOD OF DRAGON was awkwardly placed behind SUN TOUCH and consequently was not able to be tested.

Throughout the race, JOYFUL MOMENTS travelled wide and without cover.

The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident had occurred over the concluding stages which cast sufficient doubt on whether INVINCIBLE FRESH should be declared the winner of the race.

Subsequently G van Niekerk, the rider of second placed, LADY FIRST, lodged a formal protest/objection against INVINCIBLE FRESH alleging interference over the concluding stages.

After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that passing the 50 Metres INVINCIBLE FRESH shifted in marginally and made minor contact with LADY FIRST.

However, having regard to the fact that INVINCIBLE FRESH came from behind LADY FIRST in the early part of the Straight and improved to the outside of that horse and as G van Niekerk, who was using the whip in the right hand, was not impeded in his riding out of that horse, the Stewards were not satisfied to the requisite degree that had the minor contact not occurred LADY FIRST would have finished in front of INVINCIBLE FRESH.

Therefore the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SEBFIRE had bled from both nostrils.

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

NOBLE STEED, INVINCIBLE FRESH and LADY FIRST were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Races 9 and 10 were each put back 10 minutes.

2.

10 October 2018 Happy Valley Racemeeting a.

Race 7 (89) The Stewards today questioned Apprentice C Wong regarding the disappointing performance of KEEP MOVING.

He said KEEP MOVING, which was up in grade in this race, was not able to travel as comfortably as it did last start due to the pace of the race being, in his opinion, quicker than it was when the horse was successful in Class 3 at its last start.

He said KEEP MOVING came off the bridle after the 500 Metres and then was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race.

b.

Race 8 (90) When questioned regarding the performance of GOOD BEAUTY, U Rispoli stated that it was intended for the horse to be ridden in a forward position.

He said after beginning only fairly GOOD BEAUTY was then badly crowded for room which resulted in the horse being much further back in the field than has been intended.

He said he then rode GOOD BEAUTY along in the early stages to see whether the horse may be able to obtain a more forward position given his instructions, however, despite being ridden along, GOOD BEAUTY did not show any early speed.

He said passing the winning post on the first occasion he steadied GOOD BEAUTY with a view to possibly obtaining a trailing position behind THE JUDGE, however, he became aware that ARCADA and IRISH VEGA improved their position inside GOOD BEAUTY and for this reason he was not able to shift in.

He said this resulted in GOOD BEAUTY having to travel three wide throughout the race albeit the horse was able to have cover throughout.

He added GOOD BEAUTY did not travel comfortably at any stage of the race and as far as 800 Metres from the finish came off the bridle, resulting in him having to ride the horse along in an attempt to maintain its position behind HAPPY SPIRIT.

He said GOOD BEAUTY did not respond to his riding and after being taken wider after the 500 Metres when horses improved to his inside, GOOD BEAUTY did not finish off the race.

He further stated that although GOOD BEAUTY was obliged to race further back in the field and was three wide at its first time of asking at Happy Valley, nonetheless the horse was disappointing in that it came under pressure so far from the finish and then did not respond to his riding.



3.

Omission from Racing Incidents Report of 10 October 2018 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 8 (90) Near the 1250 Metres, IRISH VEGA was steadied away from the heels of RIGHT HONOURABLE.

4.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Happy Valley Racemeeting on 10 October 2018 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of HAPPY SEBRING, PO CHING TREASURE, SAVANNAH WIND, THE SHOW, REGENCY HONEY, ULTIMATE DREAM, ALL YOU KNOW, LUNAR ZEPHYR, VICTORY POWER, BLITZING, APPLAUSE, DOUBLE VALENTINE, PERFECT GLORY, JADE THEATRE, MR LUMIERES, SAUL'S SPECIAL, CHEERFULJET, RIGHT HONOURABLE, THE JUDGE and PLANET STAR revealed no apparent abnormality.

5.

Racing Laboratory tests of LE PEGASE, MANAGEMENT STAR, NAMJONG PLUS, DYNAMIC EAGLE, IMPECCABLE FELLOW, CAPTAIN BOSS, FLYING FORCE, POWERMAX, TRAVEL SUCCESSOR, MR PICASSO, THE CREATETH, SHANGHAI MASTER, STAR OF JOY, INSAYSHABLE, SUPER CHIC, JUMBO HAPPINESS, FANTASTIC FEELING and GAMECHANGERS (3.10.18) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 3: I'M A WITNESS (standby runner) on 11.10.18 on veterinary advice.

Race 8: GREEN ENERGY and CHARITY GO at barriers on veterinary advice.

2.

Riding Change Following an incident at the barriers in Race 8, Apprentice H T Mo was stood down by the Racing Medical Officer.

As such, permission was given for Apprentice C Wong to be substituted as the rider of SUN TOUCH in Race 10.

3.

Fine Race 7: Apprentice M F Poon (NUCLEAR POWER): $15,000 for careless riding passing the 300 Metres.

4.

Severe Reprimand Race 2: K C Leung (BEAUTY DAY) for steadying the tempo of the race too quickly after the 1600 Metres.

5.

Warnings Race 3: Apprentice H T Mo (RICHCITY FORTUNE) for shifting out approaching the 200 Metres.

Race 4: Apprentice C Wong (VERY SWEET ORANGE) for allowing his mount to race too close to the heels of another runner for some distance approaching the 500 Metres.

6.

Suspensions Race 7: Apprentice M F Poon (NUCLEAR POWER) for careless riding passing the 300 Metres (from 18 November 2018 until 22 November 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 10: Z Purton (COMFORT LIFE) for careless riding near the 1100 Metres (from 28 October 2018 until 1 November 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

7.

Stewards' Inquiry & Protest/Objection Race 10

8.

Bleeders Race 7: STAR OF YAN OI Race 10: SEBFIRE (2nd time)

9.

Stalls Test Race 5: MY WINNER

10.

Barrier Trials Race 8: GREEN ENERGY CHARITY GO

11.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: CHEERFUL GIGGLES Race 3: I'M A WITNESS Race 4: HAPPY HAPPY STAR Race 5: PEARL CHAMPION Race 8: GREEN ENERGY CHARITY GO