Recap by phillip woo

Punted late to jump favourite, Californiadeepshot got up in the shadows of the post after prompting the pace one-off the fence from a wide gate. He's always shown ability in Class Three and relished a light weight up in grade. Will Power stayed on nicely near the outside after a one-off run in midfield to make it close on the wire. It was a solid effort with a return to the turf by the dirt specialist. Classic Unicorn got swamped in the shadows of the post after cornering two lengths on top leading from gate one. He's not easy to run down if he gets his own way in front. Hong Kong Win ran on well near the inside to fill the frame following a rails run behind midfield. It was a good effort despite a rise in trip. Golden Dash just missed the frame without clear running over the final 50m after getting hampered approaching the final bend by the eventual winner following a box-seat run. He had excuses. Explosive Witness ran on without menacing after settling fourth last. It wasn't a bad effort stepping up to the 1,200m. The backwash from Golden Dash's interference at the 400m cost Shining Gem any chance following a rails run in midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (294) - MERCURY HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1200Meters

SHINING GEM was slow to begin.

GUNNISON shifted in at the start, resulting in MEGA HEART being crowded onto RACING FIGHTER and losing ground.

From the outside barrier, JOYFUL UNION was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

EXPLOSIVE WITNESS got its head up and raced ungenerously when being steadied approaching the 1000 Metres.

GUNNISON also raced ungenerously rounding the first turn when being steadied.

EXPLOSIVE WITNESS again got its head up and shifted out off the heels of LARSON at the 750 Metres, causing JOYFUL UNION to be hampered.

M Chadwick (CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that at the 550 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in, initiating contact with GOLDEN DASH and that from that stage of the race he positioned his mount to be racing unnecessarily tight outside GOLDEN DASH and shifting in to a point where that horse was crowded, became badly unbalanced and lost ground at the 450 Metres.

As a consequence, SHINING GEM was severely checked away from the heels of GOLDEN DASH as it lost ground.

HONG KONG WIN, which was following SHINING GEM, was obliged to shift out away from the heels of that horse and was inconvenienced.

Chadwick was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 13 January 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 21 January 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays).

In addition, Jockey Chadwick was fined $20,000.

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account the severity of the interference sustained by both GOLDEN DASH and SHINING GEM.

Passing the 50 Metres, GOLDEN DASH shifted out away from the heels of CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT which shifted in away from CLASSIC UNICORN which shifted in under pressure.

Over the concluding stages, both HONG KONG WIN and GOLDEN DASH raced close to the heels of CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT and CLASSIC UNICORN respectively and as a consequence were not able to be ridden out to the end of the race.

Throughout the race, RACING FIGHTER travelled wide and without cover.

A veterinary inspection of SHINING GEM immediately following the race found that horse to be galloped on the right front fetlock.

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

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

CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT and WILL POWER were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

After the running of Race 6, 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 6 being run on a track rated "Good to Firm??

2.

20 December 2020 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 9 (284) After reviewing the videos of this race, the Stewards felt it was appropriate to question H T Mo regarding his riding of SUPER ELEGANCE in the early part of the Straight.

H T Mo stated that after settling at the rear of the field, he was obliged to commence riding the horse along with the whip after the 700 Metres in order for the horse to make up ground.

He said SUPER ELEGANCE consequently commenced to travel better, however, at the 600 Metres he was obliged to shift out away from the heels of SACRED IBIS when that horse was checked.

He said after being steadied away from the heels of SACRED IBIS, SUPER ELEGANCE dropped the bit and then was left flat-footed when the runners immediately in advance of his mount, namely SACRED IBIS and PRECISE EXPRESS, accelerated.

He said whilst it was open to him to immediately shift wider on the track to provide SUPER ELEGANCE with unimpeded running, given the horse was some lengths off SACRED IBIS, he continued to ride his mount along before shifting to the outside of both SACRED IBIS and PRECISE EXPRESS near the 200 Metres with SUPER ELEGANCE then closing off the race well.

Jockey Mo was advised the Stewards would report his explanation, however, they felt that after shifting out from behind SACRED IBIS and trailing PRECISE EXPRESS rounding the Home Turn, he should have continued to direct his mount to the outside of PRECISE EXPRESS to afford his mount unimpeded running at an earlier stage.

3.

Omissions from Racing Incidents Report of 20 December 2020 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 2 (277) Passing the 200 Metres, DRAGON COMMANDER was obliged to shift to the inside of the heels of TAILOR MADE which shifted out under pressure.

Then over the concluding stages, DRAGON COMMANDER raced in restricted room between FAIRY FLOSS and TAILOR MADE.

Approaching the 50 Metres, JOY MASTER was steadied away from the heels of SMART THINKER which shifted in away from YES WE CAN which hung in under pressure over the final 200 Metres.

4.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 20 December 2020 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of BELLA BABY, NOBLE DESIRE, YES WE CAN, DAILY CHARM, TAILOR MADE, CARROLL STREET, FORTE, SUPER TEN, LEADING FORTUNE, JADE PHOENIX, DEMONS ROCK, RESOLUTE, FORTUNE MASTER, WINNING STEED, SUPER POWER MAN, ALL FOR SOUTH, BIZ POWER, WINNING FOR ALL, ROMAN TURBO, ROMANTIC COMBO, CELESTIAL POWER, KYRUS UNICORN, HEALTHY HAPPY and BAND OF BROTHERS revealed no apparent abnormality.

5.

Racing Laboratory tests of MASTER MONTARO, SUPER DOBBIN, AUTHENTIC CHAMP, PLIKCLONE, BEAUTY ANGEL, CHARITY GO, NATURAL STORM, MOGUL, EXULTANT, HOT KING PRAWN, DANON SMASH, JOLLY BANNER, LUCKY PATCH, SUPER FOOTBALL, GOLDEN SIXTY, SOUTHERN LEGEND, MAGICAL, NORMCORE, WIN BRIGHT, WINNING DREAMER, BEAUTY APPLAUSE, SHADOW HERO, TOURBILLON DIAMOND and CIRCUIT THREE (13.12.20) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 4: NEXTMODEL on 22.12.20 on veterinary advice.

Race 7: PRINCE OF BON BON prior to Race 1 on veterinary advice.

RICH AND LUCKY at barriers on veterinary advice.

2.

Fine Race 9: M Chadwick (CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT): $20,000 for careless riding at the 550 Metres.

3.

Reprimands Race 1: J Moreira (PERFECT TO PLAY) for shifting in approaching the 1300 Metres.

M L Yeung (KEEP WINNING) for shifting in approaching the 150 Metres.

M F Poon (WONDER BRAHMA) for shifting out approaching the 150 Metres.

Race 8: N Callan (ISLAND SHINE) for shifting in approaching the 700 Metres.



4.

Warnings Race 1: C Soumillon (NITRO EXPRESS) for using his whip forward of the saddle.

Race 4: C Soumillon (HAPPY GOOD GUYS) for shifting in after the 900 Metres and again approaching the 50 Metres.

5.

Suspensions Race 5: C Soumillon (HERE COMES TED) for careless riding passing the 200 Metres (from 3 February 2021 until 7 February 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 9: M Chadwick (CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT) for careless riding at the 550 Metres (from 13 January 2021 until 21 January 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 3 Hong Kong racedays).

6.

Stalls Test Race 6: THOU SHALL SING

7.

Barrier Trials Race 2: RUN THE TABLE Race 6: SUPER AXIOM

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: RUN THE TABLE Race 4: NEXTMODEL Race 5: ONE HAPPY STAR REWARDING TOGETHER Race 6: SUPER AXIOM Race 7: PRINCE OF BON BON RICH AND LUCKY Race 9: SHINING GEM