Recap by phillip woo

Dragon General quickened nicely after making his run fifth from the back to get his nose down on the wire to win a three-horse thriller. He's capable on his day and was suited by the pace. Favourite Happy Fun wouldn't go down without a fight after repeatedly getting pestered for the lead. It was a big run in defeat. Punted late Star Shine dashed strongly after making his run third from the rear to make it very close on the wire. Lobo's Legend came from second last to finish a non-threatening fourth. He's building towards a win in recent runs. Tornado Twist ran on without menacing from behind midfield. He's struggling to recapture his best form this season. Racing Fighter was held up from the 300m to 200m when trying to improve from near the back and should have finished closer. He'll be a force to reckoned with as Class Three looms large. Star Performance came up flat in the final 100m after looming a chance 200m out following a midfield run.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (426) - CITI MORTGAGE SERVICES HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1400Meters

UNCLE STEVE shifted out at the start and bumped DRAGON GENERAL.

LOBO'S LEGEND began very awkwardly and shifted out abruptly on jumping, resulting in MORETHANLUCKY being hampered.

From a wide barrier, LOBO'S LEGEND was then shifted across behind runners.

In the early part of the Straight, DRAGON GENERAL got its head on the side and lay in.

Passing the 300 Metres, UNCLE STEVE, which was giving ground, was momentarily steadied away from the heels of DRAGON GENERAL which shifted to the outside of STAR PERFORMANCE to continue improving.

Passing the 150 Metres, DRAGON GENERAL and STAR SHINE raced tight and near the 125 Metres made contact.

Passing the 100 Metres, DRAGON GENERAL was bumped and taken in by STAR SHINE (C Y Ho) which shifted in under pressure.

C Y Ho will be advised to ensure that he stops riding and straightens his mounts in similar circumstances.

When DRAGON GENERAL was taken in, STAR PERFORMANCE was momentarily eased away from that horse's heels near the 75 Metres.

When questioned regarding his riding of JOYFUL UNION, particularly in the Home Straight, B Shinn stated that he was asked to ride the horse quietly as it was attempting the 1400 Metres of today's race for the first time in Hong Kong.

He said JOYFUL UNION was slow to begin and then settled at the rear of the field.

He said he was able to shift to the inside of RACING FIGHTER after the 1100 Metres and the horse travelled fairly.

He said as JOYFUL UNION was not travelling as well as he anticipated, he commenced to shift the horse out rounding the Home Turn as he felt that it may finish off the race best if brought to the outside of runners.

He said for this reason he shifted out from behind RACING FIGHTER rounding the Home Turn to follow DRAGON GENERAL through.

He said after the 400 Metres he attempted to shift out further to follow STAR SHINE, however, JOYFUL UNION got its head on the side, commenced to lay in and was reluctant to shift out.

He said he continued to try and shift JOYFUL UNION out, however, the horse was proving difficult to ride as it was laying in.

He said he shifted out from behind STAR SHINE after the 300 Metres when UNCLE STEVE gave ground in advance of JOYFUL UNION, however, that horse quickened better than JOYFUL UNION which he felt did not appear to be comfortable on the track surface.

He said he commenced to ride JOYFUL UNION out vigorously after the 200 Metres, however, the horse lay in badly and was difficult to ride.

He added he attempted to change his whip into his right hand, however, due to the manner in which the horse was laying in, this proved awkward and therefore he commenced to use the whip in the left hand after the 100 Metres.

He said when he did this, JOYFUL UNION again got its head on the side and lay in towards STAR PERFORMANCE.

He said due to JOYFUL UNION's racing manners in the Straight, he was not able to properly test that horse, however, he rode it out to the best of his ability in the circumstances.

After considering Jockey Shinn's explanation and after viewing some of JOYFUL UNION's previous races when the horse had been reported to have laid in in the Straight, the Stewards took no further action other than to advise Jockey Shinn that he must make every endeavour to ride his mounts out to the best of his ability even in difficult circumstances.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of UNCLE STEVE, K Teetan stated although the horse was left racing in a three wide position without cover after the 800 Metres, it travelled only satisfactorily in the middle stages and then after being placed under pressure rounding the Home Turn did not respond to his riding and gave ground noticeably from the 300 Metres.

He said he was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance as he felt that the fact that UNCLE STEVE raced three wide and without cover after the 800 Metres did not provide sufficient reason for the manner in which the horse gave ground so abruptly.

A veterinary inspection of UNCLE STEVE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

The performance of UNCLE STEVE, a last start winner and which finished at the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, UNCLE STEVE 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 opened an inquiry into H T Mo's riding of RACING FIGHTER.

After taking evidence from Jockey Mo and Mr C H Yip, the trainer of that horse, the Stewards adjourned the inquiry until a date to be fixed.

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

A veterinary inspection of MORETHANLUCKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.

DRAGON GENERAL and HAPPY FUN were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Happy Valley Racemeeting on 12 February 2020 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of EXCEPTIONAL DESIRE, AMAZING, SUPER LUCKY, BULB ELITE, EVERYONE'S ELITE, TAKINGUFURTHER, COMPASSION STAR, DIONYSUS COLLIN, ACCLAIMED LIGHT, PRESIDENT STAR, STRONGER, HONG KONG WIN, HEAVENLY THOUGHT, WINNING DELIGHT, SOLAR WAI WAI, FARSHAD, RACING LUCK, CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT, PING HAI GALAXY and DIAMOND BRILLIANT revealed no apparent abnormality.

2.

Racing Laboratory tests of LIGHTNING MISSILE, FOX CHEUNGER, DEMONS ROCK, HAPPY GOOD GUYS, WINNING WAYS, TRAVEL DATUK, POLYMER LUCK, METHANE, LET'S TAKE IT EASY, WINNER'S HEART, GOOD FOR YOU, CALIFORNIA RAD, CASA DE FORCA, THUNDER STOMP, DOR DOR, G UNIT, MASSIVE POCKET, SPEED VISION, BEAR AGAIN, NABOO STAR, FLYING QUEST, THIS IS CLASS and MERIDIAN GENIUS (5.2.20) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Severe Reprimand Race 1: M L Yeung (COMPASSION SPIRIT) for shifting in passing the 900 Metres.

2.

Reprimand Race 4: J Moreira (TRIPLE TRIPLE) for shifting in near the 850 Metres.

3.

Warnings Race 1: L Hewitson (CENTENARY IBIS) for using the whip on a horse out of contention.

T Piccone (SPARKLING STAR) for shifting in approaching the 800 Metres.

Race 7: Z Purton (BEAUTY GENERATION) for shifting in approaching the 1000 Metres.

Race 9: C Schofield (BALLISTIC KING) for shifting out passing the 200 Metres.

Race 10: C Y Ho (STAR SHINE) for shifting in passing the 100 Metres.

B Shinn (JOYFUL UNION) re his riding in the Home Straight.

4.

Adjourned Inquiry Race 10

5.

Irregular Heart Rhythm Race 9: LOCKHEED (2nd time)

6.

Stalls Tests Race 3: TELECOM ROCKET Race 4: MY WINNER Race 5: GLORIOUS DRAGON

7.

Barrier Trials Race 4: TRIPLE TRIPE Race 8: HONEST WAY Race 9: LOCKHEED Race 10: UNCLE STEVE

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 4: TRIPLE TRIPLE Race 9: LOCKHEED Race 10: UNCLE STEVE