Recap by phillip woo

Navas Two responded nicely to get up 20m out for the win after a one-off trip better than midfield. He proved an upset win over the smart Packing Victory last start was not a fluke and he'll likely get a further trip going forward. Plunged late Oscar Glory couldn't keep a straight line inside the last 100m after taking over the lead from Never Too Soon 350m out following a pace-stalking run. He was able to hold his own up in grade off a light weight. Horsesain Bolt did have to check and alter course from Oscar Glory, who was running around in the last 100m, after a prominent run on the fence. He's as honest as the day is long but struggles to win. Favourite Zone D ran on late near the inside to fill the frame without threatening the top-three after biding his time deep with cover behind midfield from a wide draw. He needed a faster pace. Well-backed late Ennea Fortune came on well to pick up a cheque after settling last from a wide draw. He's flashed potential in his four starts and will be a live chance from a better draw. Zoom Boom held his ground after a rail run in midfield. It was an OK effort on debut at huge odds.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eleven : (308) - COTTON TREE HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1400Meters

MIGHTY VALOR stumbled at the start and then lost ground when crowded for room between KINDA COOL which shifted out and NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE which shifted in after being bumped by KOWLOON GREAT which shifted in after being bumped by NEVER TOO SOON.

This resulted in MIGHTY VALOR being positioned at the rear of the field in the early stages.

MIGHTY VALOR then commenced to travel keenly and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed behind KINDA COOL approaching and passing the 1200 Metres.

MIGHTY VALOR was then allowed to improve around KINDA COOL and into a more forward position, however, raced wide and without cover throughout.

Despite being ridden along for some distance in the early stages, AMAZING CHOCOLATE failed to muster speed.

ENNEA FORTUNE got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied in the early stages to obtain cover from a wide barrier.

Near the 1150 Metres, KOWLOON GREAT was shifted in away from the heels of ZONE D.

Approaching the 1100 Metres, COBHFIELD got its head up when travelling keenly and awkwardly placed inside the heels of HORSESAIN BOLT.

After this, COBHFIELD continued to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of HORSESAIN BOLT making the turn near the 900 Metres.

COBHFIELD was shifted out away from the heels of MIGHTY VALOR approaching the 700 Metres when continuing to prove very difficult to settle and then gave ground in the Straight.

The performance of COBHFIELD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

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

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

Approaching the 300 Metres, ZOOM BOOM was shifted out away from the heels of MIGHTY VALOR which was giving ground.

Near the 250 Metres, MIGHTY VALOR, which was continuing to give ground, was shifted in away from the heels of ZOOM BOOM and in doing so inconvenienced KOWLOON GREAT.

The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident occurred which cast sufficient doubt on whether OSCAR GLORY (V Borges) should be declared the second placegetter of the race.

Subsequently, B Shinn, the rider of HORSESAIN BOLT, third placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against OSCAR GLORY being declared the second placegetter alleging interference to his mount over the final 200 Metres.

After taking evidence from both parties and after viewing the videos, it was established that as HORSESAIN BOLT attempted to improve to the outside of OSCAR GLORY from just prior to the 200 Metres until passing the 150 Metres, OSCAR GLORY shifted out, resulting in HORSESAIN BOLT being taken out and being inconvenienced and which resulted in HORSESAIN BOLT being directed to the inside of OSCAR GLORY at about the 125 Metres.

As HORSESAIN BOLT was attempting to improve to the inside of OSCAR GLORY, that horse was corrected by its rider which resulted in HORSESAIN BOLT having to be directed in away from the heels of OSCAR GLORY and being hampered.

After considering the manner in which both horses finished off the race over about the final 100 Metres after HORSESAIN BOLT was able to establish clear and unimpeded running to the inside of OSCAR GLORY and the half-length margin between those horses at the end of the race, the Stewards could not be satisfied to the requisite degree that HORSESAIN BOLT would have finished in front of OSCAR GLORY if not for the interference and accordingly, the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

At a subsequent inquiry, V Borges pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that for some distance approaching and passing the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when riding it along, resulting in HORSESAIN BOLT being unnecessarily inconvenienced and near the 150 Metres being shifted to the inside of OSCAR GLORY after losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

V Borges was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 6 February 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 10 February 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Borges' good race riding record.

A veterinary inspection of KINDA COOL and MIGHTY VALOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

ZONE D, NAVAS TWO and OSCAR GLORY were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

29 December 2021 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 6 (295) The Stewards today questioned H T Mo regarding his riding of EIGHT TRIGRAMS in the early stages of this race.

Jockey Mo stated that he was instructed to begin positively on EIGHT TRIGRAMS and then ride the horse where it was comfortable.

He said it was not anticipated that EIGHT TRIGRAMS would have sufficient speed to lead, however, it was felt that the horse would be able to obtain a forward position without having to be ridden along.

He said in accordance with his instructions he began positively on EIGHT TRIGRAMS and when FIERY DIAMOND was being ridden along to obtain a forward position inside EIGHT TRIGRAMS, he allowed that horse to continue to improve its position forward of EIGHT TRIGRAMS in the early stages.

He said EIGHT TRIGRAMS was not showing as much early speed as anticipated which resulted in EVERYONE'S VICTORY shifting in in front of EIGHT TRIGRAMS near the 1000 Metres and follow FIERY DIAMOND.

He added when racing behind other runners, EIGHT TRIGRAMS appeared to resent the kickback which made it more difficult for him to hold his position in the early and middle stages and which resulted in EIGHT TRIGRAMS racing behind midfield.

H T Mo was advised that his riding of EIGHT TRIGRAMS in the early stages had come under notice as, in the opinion of the Stewards, it was available for him to shift across to follow FIERY DIAMOND which would have afforded EIGHT TRIGRAMS the opportunity to race in a more prominent position and would not have allowed EVERYONE'S VICTORY to shift in to occupy that position.

He was told to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner so as to comply with his instructions and to ensure that his riding is not open to query.

2.

Racing Laboratory tests of HAPPY JAI JAI, CENTENARY IBIS, GOOD BEAUTY, WILD WEST WING, PACKING CHAMPION, SINGAPORE SPIRIT, MERIDIAN GENIUS, SO AWESOME, ABOVE, EXCEPTIONAL NICE, DR WINNING, GLORIOUS LOVER, LUCKY ARCHANGEL, SAVVY DELIGHT, HERE COMES TED, WINNING METHOD, KEEP YOU WARM, WE THE SOUTH, KURPANY, IGNITING and STOICISM (22.12.21) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Fines Race 3: Trainer P F Yiu (SHINY TWO): $10,000 for a breach of Regulation 108 of the Trainers' Handbook.

Race 5: K C Leung (INDIGENOUS REALM): $7,500 for weighing in 3 lbs over the horse's allocated weight.

Race 6: Trainer P F Yiu (DARCI JOY): $3,000 for presenting the horse in the Parade Ring without a parade hood, part of that horse's declared gear.

Race 7: B Shinn (TURQUOISE ALPHA): $60,000 for careless riding passing the 200 Metres.

2.

Warnings Race 2: J Moreira (BEAUTY LIVE) for shifting in after the 100 Metres.

Race 10: J Moreira (BLAZE WARRIOR) for shifting in near the 50 Metres.

General: H T Mo (EIGHT TRIGRAMS) re his riding in the early stages.

3.

Suspensions Race 7: B Shinn (TURQUOISE ALPHA) for careless riding passing the 200 Metres (from 12 February 2022 until 17 February 2022 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 11: V Borges (OSCAR GLORY) for careless riding for some distance approaching and passing the 200 Metres (from 6 February 2022 until 10 February 2022 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

4.

Stewards' Inquiry & Protest/Objection Race 11

5.

Barrier Trials Race 1: INCREDIBLE Race 11: COBHFIELD

6.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: INCREDIBLE Race 6: SWOT TROOPERS WIND Race 11: COBHFIELD

7.

Course and False Outside Rail Arrangement Turf B+2 Course, the false outside rail was placed at 4 metres.

8.

Rolling Arrangement The track was rolled after race

5.