Recap by phillip woo

Well-backed late Smiling City came with a bold move near the outside to run down the late-plunged Starlit Knight in the deep stretch for a first win at his 13th start. Starlit Knight served it up to early favourite Focus to assume the lead 450m out following a pace-pressing run, straightened two lengths on top and found one better on the day. Post-time favourite King Dragon stayed on well for a placing after a box-seat run in his Valley debut. He's not far off a winning run. Lucky Missile ran on steadily near the inside from behind midfield to finish a distant fourth. He's made a good impression in back-toback runs with a switch to the Valley 1,650m and might handle the 1,800m as well. Management Star stayed on without menacing following a midfield run on the fence. He likely needed the start following a 140-day break. Oriental Elite came up one-paced after a one-off run in midfield. The move to blinkers failed to spark improvement.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (762) - WONG NAI CHUNG GAP HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1650Meters

As the start was effected, LUCKY QUALITY reared and lost a considerable amount of ground.

A veterinary inspection of LUCKY QUALITY immediately following the race found that horse to be distressed.

Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY QUALITY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

PLAY WISE was slow to begin.

LUCKY MISSILE lost its right front plate at the start.

Shortly after the start, KING DRAGON and NUREMBERG bumped as a result of both horses shifting ground.

From the outside barrier, LASTING FRIENDSHIP was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

Near the 1600 Metres, NUREMBERG was steadied away from the heels of KING DRAGON which shifted out when being ridden along.

Near the 1500 Metres, PLAY WISE was steadied when crowded for room inside NUREMBERG (H T Mo) which got its head on the side and shifted in.

H T Mo was reprimanded and told that whilst it was accepted he had attempted to straighten his mount, he should have done so sooner than he did on this occasion.

C Schofield (THE SHOW) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the winning post on the first occasion he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from shifting in when not clear of ORIENTAL ELITE, resulting in that horse being checked and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for the racemeeting to be conducted at Sha Tin on Wednesday, 1 July 2020.

As such, C Schofield is eligible to resume race riding on Thursday, 2 July 2020.

In addition, Jockey Schofield was fined $50,000.

After this, ORIENTAL ELITE was checked away from the heels of THE SHOW for some distance.

LUCKY QUALITY lost its left front plate near the 600 Metres.

Rounding the Home Turn, PLAY WISE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NUREMBERG.

Then shortly after straightening, PLAY WISE was shifted abruptly to the outside of NUREMBERG to obtain clear running.

Passing the 300 Metres, MANAGEMENT STAR and THE SHOW bumped.

Also passing the 300 Metres, the whip of N Callan (ORIENTAL ELITE) momentarily became caught under the right rein of V Borges (SMILING CITY).

Passing the 100 Metres, PLAY WISE was checked away from the heels of FOCUS which was giving ground.

V Borges was spoken to regarding his riding out of that horse over the final 50 Metres.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FOCUS, K Teetan stated that it was intended for the horse to take up a forward position in the early stages and then he was to steady his mount in order to allow STARLIT KNIGHT, which was anticipated would take up the lead, to cross FOCUS and provide him with cover.

He said after riding his mount positively from a wide barrier to take up a forward position, he was able to cross runners to his inside to race on the rail near the 1300 Metres.

He said he immediately steadied his mount in the hope that STARLIT KNIGHT would continue to improve to his outside, however, when STARLIT KNIGHT remained racing to the outside of FOCUS, this resulted in his mount not being able to obtain cover.

He said when travelling in the lead without cover, FOCUS travelled too keenly and would not relax.

He said when STARLIT KNIGHT improved its position to be racing on terms with FOCUS after the 600 Metres, he was required to ride his mount along to hold his position as it was too late a stage in the race to allow STARLIT KNIGHT to cross FOCUS.

He said FOCUS immediately came under heavy pressure and after staying on reasonably rounding the Home Turn then gave ground in the early part of the Straight and weakened noticeably over the latter stages.

He added whilst FOCUS was disappointing, in his opinion, the horse's performance could be attributed to the fact that it would not relax in the early and middle stages.

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

The performance of FOCUS, which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable.

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

After the race, Apprentice K H Chan explained that after being slow to begin, PLAY WISE was obliged to race at the back of the field and due to the circumstances of the race was not able to improve its position when required.

He said although PLAY WISE was checked passing the 100 Metres, the horse was beaten at this time.

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

KING DRAGON, SMILING CITY and STARLIT KNIGHT were sent for sampling.