Recap by phillip woo

Well-backed late, Tempest Express just held off favourite Flagship Glory despite lugging out late after surging to the lead passing the 200m following a two-deep run behind midfield from a wide gate. He's really turned the corner with a step back to the 1,400m under Antoine Hamelin. Flagship Glory finished very well to make it close on the wire after settling five back and two off the fence following a slow start. He's made a good impression in his two starts. Beluga finished very well for a placing after a gap finally opened near the inside 150m out following a patient ride third last from a wide gate. He has been racing well in defeat despite failing to draw a gate in his past five starts. Rank outsider Stoicism closed well to spice up the quartet after settling fourth last from a tricky gate. He's shown natural progress in his three starts. Lewis ran on steadily to finish a non-threatening fifth after a one-off run in midfield. He's run with merit in two of three Sha Tin runs. Prime Minster came up one-paced over the final 50m after getting badly held up for a run along the inside until the 150m following a midfield run on the fence.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (450) - WERTHER HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1400Meters

FLAGSHIP GLORY was slow to begin.

SEVEN HEAVENS shifted in at the start and inconvenienced STAR OF YUEN LONG.

From wide barriers, BELUGA and PERFECT PAIR were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Passing the 1100 Metres, FLAGSHIP GLORY commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed behind LEWIS.

V Borges (DIAMOND BRILLIANT) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that for some distance rounding the Home Turn he permitted his mount to shift out, resulting in STAR OF YUEN LONG being unnecessarily crowded for room and at the 400 Metres having to be checked after losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled to the inside of KA YING EXCELLENT and outside DIAMOND BRILLIANT which shifted out.

V Borges was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 10 March 2021 and to expire on Sunday, 14 March 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

WINNING FOR ALL was held up for clear running from on straightening until passing the 100 Metres and consequently was not able to be properly tested.

BELUGA was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and then was unable to obtain clear running until near the 150 Metres at which stage it improved into tight running between DIAMOND BRILLIANT and SEVEN HEAVENS.

When improving into tight running, BELUGA got its head on the side and lay in onto SEVEN HEAVENS which was crowded for room approaching the 100 Metres.

BELUGA was then shifted out to relieve the tightening to SEVEN HEAVENS passing the 100 Metres, resulting in DIAMOND BRILLIANT being momentarily inconvenienced between BELUGA and PRIME MINISTER.

PRIME MINISTER had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and after being disappointed for running between DIAMOND BRILLIANT and SEVEN HEAVENS passing the 300 Metres was then shifted to the outside of DIAMOND BRILLIANT near the 250 Metres to obtain clear running.

PRIME MINISTER then momentarily raced in restricted room between DIAMOND BRILLIANT and KA YING EXCELLENT passing the 200 Metres.

Approaching the 150 Metres, STAR OF YUEN LONG was shifted away from the heels of KA YING EXCELLENT which was giving ground.

Over the concluding stages, TEMPEST EXPRESS and FLAGSHIP GLORY shifted out under pressure.

Throughout the race, KA YING EXCELLENT travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, A Badel (PERFECT PAIR) stated that rounding the Home Turn he was taken wider by MERIDIAN GENIUS and raced tight outside that horse.

He said at the entrance to the Straight he commenced to ride PERFECT PAIR along, however, passing the 400 Metres MERIDIAN GENIUS shifted out and bumped PERFECT PAIR which resulted in his mount becoming unbalanced.

He said after this MERIDIAN GENIUS continued to lay out on PERFECT PAIR which resulted in it continuing to be unbalanced.

He added after the 250 Metres he was able to establish a margin over MERIDIAN GENIUS and after balancing up his mount commenced to ride PERFECT PAIR along near the 200 Metres and the horse then finished off the race satisfactorily.

A veterinary inspection of STAR OF YUEN LONG, KA YING EXCELLENT and TELECOM FIGHTERS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

TEMPEST EXPRESS and FLAGSHIP GLORY were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

17 February 2021 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 8 (439) After reviewing the videos, the Stewards believed that it was appropriate to question A Badel regarding his riding of HERCULES, particularly in the middle stages.

A Badel stated that he had not been under any specific instructions on how HERCULES should be ridden other than to have the horse racing where it was comfortable to ensure that it was able to finish off the race well.

He said, from barrier 8, he shifted HERCULES across behind runners in the early stages and making the turn after the 1000 Metres was racing behind JAZZ STEED.

He said approaching the 900 Metres ALCARI, which was to his inside, shifted out away from the rail which resulted in HERCULES racing in a three wide position.

He said at this stage YOUNG PASSION was looking to shift in from outside HERCULES to a position in front of his mount and behind JAZZ STEED.

He said at this stage YOUNG PASSION had established a margin over HERCULES and he believed he would have had to ride his mount along for HERCULES to remain racing behind JAZZ STEED and to prevent YOUNG PASSION from shifting in.

He said as he was reluctant to ride his mount along after the 900 Metres, he made the decision to allow YOUNG PASSION to shift in.

He added after the 600 Metres he was following ALCARI which he considered to be a horse that might be able to take him into the race, however, he felt that there would be more opportunity for HERCULES to obtain clear running if brought to the outside of runners and therefore he directed his mount to the outside of YOUNG PASSION after the 400 Metres and into clear running.

He said he immediately commenced to ride HERCULES along and the horse responded very well and therefore he did not believe that it was necessary in the early part of the Straight to use the whip on the horse given that HERCULES had quickened strongly at this stage.

He said he continued to ride HERCULES out throughout the Straight and the horse finished off the race strongly.

A Badel was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, he must ensure that, wherever possible, he maintains advantageous positions and rides his mounts competitively so that they do not get out of their ground unnecessarily.

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Happy Valley Racemeeting on 17 February 2021 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of WINS ALL, A LA KING, JUST NOT LISTENING, RED BRICK FIGHTER, VICTORY IN HAND, JOY AVENUE, AFTER ME, PEAK TO PEAK, MERCURIAL, PLIKCLONE, SAVAQUIN, FARSHAD, CHARITY FUN, XIANG BAI QI, MALDIVES, VILLA FIONN, FAST PACE, SCORES OF FUN, SHOUSON, IGNITING and WIND N GRASS revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of JOYFUL WIN, TRAVEL DATUK, BABY STORM, PRESIDENT STAR, TREASURE CHEST, DIONYSUS COLLIN, OWNERS' STAR, SUNNY STAR, WEALTHY DELIGHT, DAILY BEAUTY, JOLLY GOOD HEART, GLORIOUS LOVER, GALLANT CROWN, RIGHT HONOURABLE, STOCK LEGEND, SPONTANEOUS, ROMANTIC TROVE, KURPANY, FLYING GENIUS, EQUALETTA BLITZ and KA YING MASTER (10.2.21) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 9: MAXIMUS on 20.2.21 on veterinary advice.

2.

Riding Changes After riding in Race 3, C Schofield became indisposed and was stood down by the Chief Medical Officer.

Accordingly, permission was given for the following riding substitutions: Race 5: T Piccone on BRILLIANT CHINA Race 8: A Badel on RED DESERT Race 9: N Callan on SMILING TIME Race 10: M F Poon on MERIDIAN GENIUS

3.

Fine Race 6: C Y Ho (CALIFORNIA CONCORD): $3,000 for initially weighing out without a girth and surcingle.

4.

Severe Reprimand Race 7: B Shinn (COLUMBUS COUNTY) for shifting in passing the 900 Metres.

5.

Reprimands Race 7: J Moreira (FURORE) for shifting out passing the 400 Metres.

C Y Ho (GOLDEN SIXTY) for shifting in passing the 50 Metres.

6.

Warnings Race 1: J Moreira (HAPPY TANGO) for shifting in making the first turn near the 700 Metres.

Race 9: C Y Ho (TOURBILLON DIAMOND) for shifting in near the 200 Metres.

General: A Badel (HERCULES) re his riding in the middle stages.

7.

Suspensions Race 9: A Badel (HEALTHY HAPPY) for careless riding approaching the 1100 Metres (from 7 March 2021 until 11 March 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 10: V Borges (DIAMOND BRILLIANT) for careless riding for some distance rounding the Home Turn (from 10 March 2021 until 14 March 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

8.

Irregular Heart Rhythm Race 1: HEY PAL

9.

Bleeder Race 1: HARD PROMISE (2nd time)

10.

Barrier Trials Race 1: UNTOLD RICHES HEY PAL

11.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: UNTOLD RICHES HEY PAL Race 8: UGLY WARRIOR Race 9: MAXIMUS

12.

Rolling Arrangement The track was rolled after race

5.