Recap by phillip woo

Firming favourite Equaletta Blitz just wore down long-time leader Ka Ying Master chasing the speed one off for a first win at his fifth start. He had caught the eye in defeat last start. Ka Ying Master wouldn't go down without a fight after turning the final bend two lengths on top. He continues to race well. Loving A Boom surged late to finish a close third after settling last from a wide gate. He keeps knocking on the door. Excellent Chariot ran on well to fill the frame without menacing the top three after making his run fourth from the rear. It was an improved effort with a switch to the Valley for his second Class Three start. Punted late, Wind N Grass made only a mild bid following a rails run in midfield. He rarely produces a bad run but is finding it harder around his current mark. Tornado Twist came up one-paced after a wide run without cover in midfield. He had an excuse. Green Reign ran on without menacing from towards the rear. He likely requires further relief in the ratings. Sparkling Dragon was running on empty near the 200m after going forward three deep to eventually settle one-out, one-back 650m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (420) - CINERARIA HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

CARROLL STREET was withdrawn on 8.2.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (respiratory infection) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter WATER DIVINER.

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

CIRCUIT SEVEN began awkwardly and lost ground.

BEAUTY KOBE and SPARKLING DRAGON bumped on jumping.

EXCELLENT CHARIOT shifted out at the start and bumped GREEN REIGN.

From the outside barriers, WATER DIVINER, EXCELLENT CHARIOT, GREEN REIGN and LOVING A BOOM were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover.

Near the 650 Metres, HARMONY N HOME was awkwardly placed behind SPARKLING DRAGON.

Also near the 650 Metres, TORNADO TWIST was left racing wide and without cover.

Passing the 200 Metres, SPARKLING DRAGON and TORNADO TWIST raced tight.

When questioned regarding his riding of BEAUTY KOBE after the 500 Metres, V Borges stated that his mount got its head on the side and lay away from KA YING MASTER which created the gap between that horse and BEAUTY KOBE.

He said he had a number of looks to his inside passing the 450 Metres to ensure that BEAUTY KOBE shifting out did not allow room for another runner to commence improving between his mount and KA YING MASTER as he received a call at this stage.

He said after establishing that no runner was attempting to improve between KA YING MASTER and BEAUTY KOBE, he continued to ride his mount along, however, BEAUTY KOBE continued to lay out and shifted out rounding the Home Turn which allowed the opportunity for EQUALETTA BLITZ to shift out from behind KA YING MASTER and inside BEAUTY KOBE.

V Borges was told that whilst the Stewards accepted that BEAUTY KOBE was laying out after the 500 Metres despite his efforts to prevent his horse from doing so, nonetheless he was warned against the practice of looking around at races.

After the race, K Teetan reported that SPARKLING DRAGON did not finish off the race and, in his opinion, felt "flat?? A veterinary inspection of SPARKLING DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of TORNADO TWIST and BEAUTY KOBE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

EQUALETTA BLITZ and KA YING MASTER and were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

The Stewards tonight interviewed Mr D E Ferraris regarding the failure to declare his entered horses for tonight's racemeeting on Monday, 8 February 2021 by the stipulated time in accordance with the Rules of Racing.

Also interviewed were Mr S L Tai, assistant trainer allocated to Mr Ferraris' stable, and Mr E C Kwok, Manager, Racing Registry.

Mr Ferraris explained that he was unaware that the declarations for this racemeeting had not been submitted as required as he has always allocated this task to his senior members of stable staff.

He said that after becoming aware of the situation, he attempted to submit the declarations as soon as possible, however, the system would not accept them due to being outside of the stipulated time.

Mr Ferraris accepted that his stable had failed in their responsibilities to submit the declarations but stated that there were a number of significant circumstances to this matter.

Mr Tai explained that he did not attend the stables on Saturday, 6 February 2021 and Sunday, 7 February 2021 when he would normally submit the declarations.

He said it was his intention to do so prior to 8 o'clock deadline on the morning of Monday, 8 February 2021, but after arriving at the stable, he was informed that one of his stable riders would not be attending work that day and accordingly he had to make a considerable number of changes to the stable work programme.

He said although he was aware that he had not submitted the declarations at various times during track work, it was not until late in the morning that he had the opportunity to do so.

Mr Tai said that he attempted to log onto the stable computer to submit the declarations just before 8 o'clock on the relevant morning, however, the system would not accept the submission.

He said he telephoned the Club's Racing Registry Department, however, as it was after the stipulated time, the declarations were not able to be accepted.

Mr Kwok informed the Stewards that in 2007 a system was introduced whereby 30 minutes prior to the closing of declarations, an email alert would be sent to the stable email and to the relevant trainer's personal email if the relevant trainer wished for that alert to be so forwarded.

Mr Kwok said that Mr Ferraris had submitted his personal email details and that the alert should have been routinely sent to Mr Ferraris' personal email.

He said however that due to a technical issue, the alert was not received by Mr Ferraris at his personal email address as it should have been and that it had only been sent to the stable email.

Mr Ferraris said he routinely receives emails from the Club in respect of entries, handicaps, extended races and the like and it was his expectation that in the event that the stable had not submitted the declarations by the required time, he would be made aware of the situation in advance in accordance with the normal issuance of emails.

He said as he has constantly received all other communications from the Club via his personal email, he believed that he had the reasonable expectation that the declarations had been submitted as no warning message was sent to him in accordance with standard practice.

After having considered all the circumstances of this case, the Stewards believed that whilst Mr Ferraris had failed in his responsibilities, they were of the opinion that there had been a significant flaw in the Club's standard operating procedures in respect of the advance notification of any failure to submit declarations by the stipulated time.

Accordingly, the Stewards decided not to issue a charge against Mr Ferraris, however, they reminded him of the requirement to ensure that his stable practices are as robust as possible to ensure that a similar situation does not occur in the future.

Mr Tai was told by the Stewards that a report in respect of his part in this matter, together with all of the other relevant circumstances, would be forwarded to Stables Management for their consideration.

Mr Kwok advised the Stewards that the Club had commenced rectifying the email notification system in respect of an alert being sent informing of any late submission of declarations and that a number of other measures were being actively pursued to ensure that trainers are notified in a timely manner that their stables' declarations had yet to be submitted.

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 6 February 2020 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of DESTINE JEWELLERY, LITTLE THUNDER, PLEASANT ENDEAVOR, HURRY HURRY GAIN, THE ROCK, CONQUEROR, PEGASUS GLORY, JUDY'S STAR, VOYAGE STAR, TREASURE CHEST, DRAGON COMMANDER, FAIRY FLOSS, SKYEY SUPREME, LADY FIRST, PARTY EVERYDAY, BEAR SLAM, PING HAI TREASURE, TRILLION WIN, VALIANT DREAM, HINCHINLOVE, HARMONY N BLESSED, MY SUGAR and SILVER EXPRESS revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of FANTASTIC WAY, FIRE BALL, CITY LEGEND, GALAXY EMPEROR, SEIZE THE SPIRIT, LUCKY FUN, RESOLUTE, CHEERFUL DAYS, HAPPY WIN WIN, WINNING STEED, ALL FOR SOUTH, SUNNY BOY, SUNSET WATCH, BEAUTY SMILE, NOT USUAL TALENT, FURORE, GLORIOUS DRAGON, EXULTANT, WINS ALL, ULTRA EXPRESS, GREEN ENVY, LOOKING GREAT, CASIMIRO, TELECOM FIGHTERS, CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT, BEAUTY APPLAUSE and GUY DRAGON (31.1.21) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 6: GAMEPLAYER STAR on 9.2.21 on veterinary advice.

Race 8: MOST WELCOME on 9.2.21 on veterinary advice.

Race 9: CARROLL STREET on 8.2.21 on veterinary advice.

2.

Fine Race 4: J Moreira (WEALTHY DELIGHT): $60,000 for careless riding passing the 600 Metres.

3.

Reprimands Race 2: J Moreira (BABY STORM) for shifting in for some distance after the 1100 Metres.

Race 5: C Schofield (STREET SCREAM) for shifting in making the turn approaching the 1000 Metres.

4.

Warnings Race 2: C Soumillon (GLENEALY PALS) for shifting out after the 600 Metres.

V Borges (PRESIDENT STAR) for shifting in approaching the 100 Metres.

Race 4: A Badel (SUNNY STAR) for shifting in near the 350 Metres.

Apprentice C L Chau (HARMONY SPIRIT) for shifting in approaching the 100 Metres.

Race 6: J Moreira (GLORIOUS LOVER) for shifting in near the 250 Metres.

Race 8: M L Yeung (ORION PATCH) for shifting in passing the 700 Metres.

Race 9: V Borges (BEAUTY KOBE) re his riding after the 500 Metres.

General: Trainer D E Ferraris regarding his responsibilities in the running of his stable.



5.

Suspension Race 4: J Moreira (WEALTHY DELIGHT) for careless riding passing the 600 Metres (from 3 March 2021 until 8 March 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

6.

Bleeder Race 1: TOM'S STYLE

7.

Stalls Test Race 3: HANG'S DECISION

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: NEXTMODEL Race 6: GAMEPLAYER STAR Race 8: MOST WELCOME Race 9: CARROLL STREET

9.

Rolling Arrangement Rolling after race 5 was cancelled due to weather condition.