Recap by phillip woo

Water Diviner kept on gamely after hitting the front 130m out following a midfield run on the fence. He's talented when right but has had a lot of soundness issues. Co-favourite Gamechangers came on well near the inside from behind midfield to fill the Quinella spot. He continues to race well. Split Of A Second hit the line strongly to snatch third from Ambitious Heart after settling fifth from the back. He was suited by the light weight despite a rise in class. Punted late to start equal favourite Ambitious Heart just failed three from the right to get up for a placing after sitting one-out in midfield. Lady First left things too late travelling last from a wide gate but was finished well near the outside. He keeps promising without delivering. Gentle Breeze couldn't keep up the gallop over the final 150m after worked hard from an awkward gate to eventually track the leader Confucius Day in the run. He had a legitimate excuse.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (459) - HOI YUEN HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

SPLIT OF A SECOND was slow to begin.

AMBITIOUS HEART began only fairly, then shifted out and raced tight inside the hindquarters of CONFUCIUS DAY.

LOOKING GOOD shifted in at the start and bumped GENTLE BREEZE which in turn shifted in and bumped NAVAS which then got its head up when awkwardly placed outside the heels of GAMECHANGERS.

From wide barriers, LOOKING GOOD and LADY FIRST were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Despite being hard ridden for some distance in the early stages, COMPLACENCY failed to muster speed and then after the 800 Metres was left racing wide and without cover.

Shortly after entering the Straight, SPLIT OF A SECOND was shifted to the outside of GAMECHANGERS.

NAVAS was held up for clear running from passing the 300 Metres until after the 150 Metres.

NAVAS then again had difficulty obtaining clear running approaching and passing the 50 Metres.

Near the 150 Metres, CEREFINO was crowded for room between GENTLE BREEZE and CONFUCIUS DAY which, when commencing to give ground, shifted out marginally.

When being corrected to relieve the tightening to CEREFINO, CONFUCIUS DAY became badly unbalanced and shifted in abruptly.

When questioned regarding his riding out of AMBITIOUS HEART over the concluding stages, S de Sousa stated that rounding the Home Turn the horse lay out and then approaching the 200 Metres shifted in under pressure.

He said he therefore changed his whip over into his right hand to prevent the horse from shifting in further.

He said he continued to ride out AMBITIOUS HEART over the concluding stages, however, close to the finishing line SPLIT OF A SECOND, which had come from behind AMBITIOUS HEART, raced tight inside his mount as a result of AMBITIOUS HEART continuing to lay in under pressure.

He said as AMBITIOUS HEART was shifting in and he felt it was going to make contact with SPLIT OF A SECOND, he straightened his mount close to the finishing line to prevent contact with SPLIT OF A SECOND.

He said at this time he felt that SPLIT OF A SECOND had gained an advantage over AMBITIOUS HEART as that horse was finishing off the race better than his mount.

After considering all the circumstances and particularly the manner in which SPLIT OF A SECOND was finishing off its race on the inside of AMBITIOUS HEART, the Stewards did not proceed to issue a charge against Jockey de Sousa of having failed to ride his mount to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards.

Nonetheless he was told to ensure that he rides his mounts out all the way to the end of the race so as to leave no room for query.

K C Leung was fined the sum of $3,000 for weighing in 2 lbs overweight on LADY FIRST.

A veterinary inspection of CEREFINO immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg.

Before being allowed to race again, CEREFINO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of COMPLACENCY immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse's trachea.

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

AMBITIOUS HEART, WATER DIVINER and GAMECHANGERS were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

After the running of Race 2, the track classification was officially changed from "Good??to "Good to Firm?? This change in the opinion of the Stewards should be recorded as being retrospective.

As a consequence of this, the official results will show Race 2 being run on a track rated "Good to Firm??

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 24 February 2019 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of FLYING NOBLE, NEVER BETTER, TIME TO CELEBRATE, GOLD CHEST, VOYAGE STAR, BRAVE BABY, CHAIRMAN LO, PLANET STAR, HINYUEN SWIFTNESS, CHUNG WAH SPIRIT, REMARKABLE, I DO, DASHING DART, REFINED TREASURE, SAUL'S SPECIAL, TIANCHI MONSTER, CLASSIC BEAUTY, FULL OF BEAUTY, HONEST WAY, KING GENKI and GLORIOUS ARTIST revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of CLEMENT LEGEND, GARLIC YEAH, LE PANACHE, KING'S TROOPER, SUNSHINE UNIVERSE, TRUST ME, SAM'S LOVE, GREEN CARD, GOLDEN FOUR, HARD PROMISE, LUCKY HERO, WAIKUKU, GOOD STANDING, BEAUTY GENERATION, BEAT THE CLOCK, EXULTANT, SOUTHERN LEGEND, HAPPY FORCE, NOBLE STEED, CAMERA FACE, MISSION TYCOON, DARK DREAM, PICKEN, KINGSFIELD and RACING FIGHTER (17.2.19) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 3: MY DEAR on 26.2.19 on veterinary advice.

Race 4: PRECIOUS SWEETIE on 25.2.19 on veterinary advice.

2.

Riding Changes After riding in Race 4, M L Yeung became indisposed and was stood down by the Chief Medical Officer.

Accordingly, permission was given for the following riding substitutions: Race 5: S de Sousa on CLEAR CHOICE Race 6: R Bayliss on LUCKY DOLLAR

3.

Fine Race 8: K C Leung (LADY FIRST): $3,000 for weighing in 2 lbs overweight.

4.

Severe Reprimands Race 1: Apprentice C Wong (KWAICHUNG BROTHERS) for shifting in in the early stages.

Race 2: C Y Ho (TAI SMART) for shifting out over the concluding stages.

Race 6: K Teetan (BLITZING) for shifting out after the 200 Metres.

5.

Reprimands Race 1: R Bayliss (LAUGH OUT LOUD) for shifting out passing the 300 Metres.

Race 3: Apprentice H T Mo (MR RIGHT) for shifting out passing the 200 Metres.

6.

Warnings Race 7: N Callan (MAGNETISM) for shifting in passing the winning post on the first occasion.

R Bayliss (EARTH TRILOGY) for using the whip on the horse out of contention.

Race 8: S de Sousa (AMBITIOUS HEART) re the manner in which he rode his mount out over the concluding stages.

7.

Bleeder Race 6: SIR REDALOT

8.

Stalls Tests Race 5: DR RACE VICTORY POWER

9.

Barrier Trials Race 1: BLACK TECH Race 7: INCREDIBLE

10.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: BLACK TECH Race 3: MY DEAR Race 4: PRECIOUS SWEETIE Race 7: INCREDIBLE Race 8: CEREFINO