Recap by phillip woo

Punted late Beauty Spirit just got up in the last stride to deny High Volatility after being hustled to hold spot one-out, one-back from the widest gate. The writing had been on the wall in recent runs. High Volatility was ridden along to lead 1,200m out and wouldn't go down without a fight. He had been out of form of late but might have enjoyed the sting out of the ground here. Favourite Racing Fighter had his chance stalking the leader from a wide gate but had to settle for third in the end. It was another honest effort. Plunged late Amazing was badly held up the entire trip in the box-seat and should have finished closer in a surprise return to form. Kiram stayed on without menacing following a handy run. He's not far off a bottom and is better suited at a mile. Kings Shield made some ground without menacing worse than midfield. He's shown some life signs following a downgrade but is better suited on his overseas form and pedigree on the dirt.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (529) - AUSTIN HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1400Meters

FARSHAD shifted in at the start and bumped HIGH VOLATILITY.

FIRST RESPONDER began awkwardly and stumbled and in doing so shifted out and bumped MR WEALTH.

A short distance after this, FIRST RESPONDER was eased when crowded for room between FARSHAD and MR WEALTH.

From wide barriers, ROUNDABOUT and CONFUCIUS DAY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

R Bayliss (UNICORNBABY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that at the 1300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of MR WEALTH, causing that horse to be checked away from the heels of UNICORNBABY and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

R Bayliss was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 31 March 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 4 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

Near the 1150 Metres, FIRST RESPONDER commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted in when being checked away from the heels of FARSHAD which got its head up when being checked away from the heels of KINGS SHIELD.

When FIRST RESPONDER shifted in, that horse bumped COOL TEAM which became unbalanced.

Approaching the 1000 Metres, UNICORNBABY was left racing wide and without cover.

At the entrance to the Straight, MR WEALTH was eased down by its rider and when being eased down shifted in across the heels of MCMUNIGAL approaching the 400 Metres.

MR WEALTH was then retired out of the race.

A veterinary inspection of MR WEALTH immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils.

When MR WEALTH was eased down at the entrance to the Straight, COOL TEAM was shifted out away from the heels of that horse.

AMAZING had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and then after being placed under pressure passing the 300 Metres was steadied after the 200 Metres when unable to obtain clear running.

AMAZING was then badly held up for clear running until over the concluding stages of the race and consequently was not able to be properly tested.

Approaching the 300 Metres, RACING FIGHTER shifted out and bumped BEAUTY SPIRIT.

Passing the 250 Metres, COOL TEAM was shifted out away from the heels of FIRST RESPONDER which shifted out under pressure.

Then after being steadied and directed to the inside of FIRST RESPONDER near the 200 Metres, COOL TEAM was again awkwardly placed behind that horse which shifted in.

Passing the 100 Metres, COOL TEAM was crowded for room between FARSHAD which shifted out slightly and FIRST RESPONDER which shifted in before being directed out to relieve the tightening to COOL TEAM.

A veterinary inspection of COOL TEAM immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg.

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

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

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

The performance of MCMUNIGAL, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

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

RACING FIGHTER, BEAUTY SPIRIT and HIGH VOLATILITY were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Races 7 - 10 were each put back 5 minutes.

2.

Adjourned Inquiry - 17 March 2019 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 4 (500) The Steward today concluded their inquiry into the reason for Apprentice C Wong being dislodged from DELIGHT EXPRESS approaching the 900 Metres.

Evidence was today taken from Apprentice Wong and the videos of the incident were reviewed.

Apprentice Wong agreed that he had failed to take sufficient measures to prevent DELIGHT EXPRESS racing close to the heels of MARQULA which resulted in DELIGHT EXPRESS clipping the heels of that horse approaching the 900 Metres.

He said at this time MARQULA lost some ground which resulted in him being awkwardly placed behind that horse.

He added however that he should have steadied his mount sufficiently in the lead up to this incident to ensure that he was not placed too close to the heels of the horse in front.

Apprentice Wong was advised that he must leave adequate distance between his mount and the horses in front in similar circumstances to ensure that there is room to adapt to the changing circumstances of a race.

3.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Conghua Exhibition Raceday on 23 March 2019 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of NORDIC WARRIOR, SMART CHARADE, DRAGON WARRIOR, WEALTHY FORTUNE, LUCKY HERO, GREEN CARD, THE CREATETH, CLEMENT LEGEND, HAPPY ROCKY and THE JOY OF GIVING revealed no apparent abnormality.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 2: TRAVEL EMPEROR and STAR SUPERIOR on 23.3.19 on veterinary advice.

Race 3: HAPPY OUT THERE on 23.3.19 on veterinary advice.

REAL GIANT at barriers on veterinary advice.

Race 5: GOLDEN MISSION on 23.3.19 on veterinary advice.

Race 8: LONE EAGLE on 23.3.19 on veterinary advice.

2.

Fines Race 1: A Sanna (AMBITIOUS SPEEDY): $5,000 for using the whip in the forehand manner down the horse's shoulder.

Race 4: K C Ng (HAPPY PROJECT): $5,000 for using the whip on the horse when it was out of contention.

Race 5: M F Poon (DIAMOND LEGEND): $40,000 for careless riding near the 100 Metres.

3.

Reprimand Race 7: G van Niekerk (WINNING FAITH) for shifting in near the 100 Metres.

4.

Warnings Race 1: Z Purton (TRIUMPHANT LIGHT) re the manner in which he rode his mount out over the concluding stages.

General: Apprentice C Wong (DELIGHT EXPRESS) re leaving adequate distance between his mount and the horses in front.

5.

Suspensions Race 5: M F Poon (DIAMOND LEGEND) for careless riding near the 100 Metres (from 14 April 2019 until 18 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

G van Niekerk (LITTLE GENERAL) for a breach of Rule 100(2) (from 31 March 2019 until 11 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding - 4 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 6: S de Sousa (UTOPIA LIFE) for careless riding near the 150 Metres (from 3 April 2019 until 8 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 10: R Bayliss (UNICORNBABY) for careless riding at the 1300 Metres (from 31 March 2019 until 4 April 2019 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

6.

Stewards' Inquiry & Protest/Objection Race 6

7.

Irregular Heart Rhythm Race 4: TOM'S DRAGON

8.

Bleeders Race 4: TOM'S DRAGON Race 5: BLAZING PARTNERS Race 10: MR WEALTH

9.

Barrier Trials Race 1: TRIUMPHANT LIGHT Race 4: HAPPY PROJECT TOM'S DRAGON Race 5: SUPER HIPPOGRIFF Race 6: BEST SENSE Race 10: MCMUNIGAL

10.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: TRIUMPHANT LIGHT Race 2: TRAVEL EMPEROR STAR SUPERIOR HAPPY WINNER Race 3: HAPPY OUT THERE REAL GIANT Race 4: HAPPY PROJECT TOM'S DRAGON Race 5: GOLDEN MISSION SUPER HIPPOGRIFF Race 6: BEST SENSE Race 8: LONE EAGLE Race 10: COOL TEAM MCMUNIGAL