Recap by phillip woo

Gorytus showed a good turn of foot to get up 60m out down the outside for the win after a patient ride second last from a wide draw. He had caught the eye to place in his initial Valley run last month and there's likely more to come from him over this course. Meaningful Star just got up to snatch second from Amazing One Plus after a one-off run worse than midfield. He had been racing very well until misfiring in back-to-back runs. Amazing One Plus had his chance after a prominent run on the fence. It was a good effort in defeat carrying top weight. Zone D closed well from behind midfield to just miss a placing. It was another good performance with a return to the course and distance of two earlier placings this term. Well-backed Hall Of Champ found a few too smart in a rare lead role. He went OK but seems to perform better at Sha Tin. Sacred Ibis just held his ground after a rails run in midfield. Once again he found things harder in this grade after a sweeping success in Class Four. Newcomer Ensured beat a few after a slow start. He'll need more time to settle in. You can forget the run of Helene Wisdom Star who was caught wide without cover the entire trip in midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (354) - LAMMA ISLAND HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Meters

ENSURED began awkwardly and then was crowded for room between SACRED IBIS and HALL OF CHAMP, both of which shifted ground.

HELENE WISDOM STAR and AMAZING ONE PLUS bumped at the start.

HELENE WISDOM STAR was then crowded for room between AMAZING ONE PLUS and ZONE D which shifted out shortly after the start.

GORYTUS shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of CONQUEROR.

After this, from a wide barrier, GORYTUS was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

After travelling a short distance, MEANINGFUL STAR was crowded for room between READY PLAYER ONE and EVERYONE'S DELIGHT which shifted out.

Near the 1300 Metres, CONQUEROR and READY PLAYER ONE bumped.

Approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, ZONE D was awkwardly placed behind MEANINGFUL STAR.

CONQUEROR travelled wide and without cover until near the 800 Metres at which time the horse was shifted in to race outside the lead.

After the 700 Metres, EVERYONE'S DELIGHT got its head on the side and lay out.

Making the turn near the 600 Metres, READY PLAYER ONE raced tight inside HELENE WISDOM STAR which improved to the outside of that horse.

Also making the turn near the 600 Metres, ZONE D shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of MEANINGFUL STAR, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.

MEANINGFUL STAR was awkwardly placed behind READY PLAYER ONE approaching the 500 Metres and near the 450 Metres was bumped by ZONE D which shifted out.

At the entrance to the Straight, L Hewitson (SACRED IBIS) was not able to use his whip when racing tight inside READY PLAYER ONE which improved into tight running inside CONQUEROR which was giving ground.

Passing the 200 Metres, MEANINGFUL STAR was shifted out away from the heels of EVERYONE'S DELIGHT to continue improving.

Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of A Badel (EVERYONE'S DELIGHT), 6th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse's finishing position, he was nonetheless told to ensure that he rides his mounts out all the way to the end of the race where circumstances permit.

J Moreira, the rider of 4th placegetter, ZONE D, pleaded guilty to a charge of having failed to ride his mount out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards [Rule 100(2)].

After having considered all the relevant circumstances, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for J Moreira's licence to ride in races be suspended for a period to commence on Sunday, 6 February 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 24 February 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (6 Hong Kong racedays).

When questioned regarding his riding of ZONE D, particularly after the 1000 Metres, J Moreira stated that approaching the 900 Metres he was following MEANINGFUL STAR which at this time was racing to the outside of SACRED IBIS.

He said after the 900 Metres MEANINGFUL STAR commenced to lose ground when racing behind READY PLAYER ONE and he had the option of shifting either to the inside or the outside of MEANINGFUL STAR rather than continue to lose ground behind that horse.

He said as he was aware that HELENE WISDOM STAR was commencing to improve its position to the outside of the heels of ZONE D, he felt that to shift ZONE D to the outside of MEANINGFUL STAR would likely result in interference to HELENE WISDOM STAR and therefore he made the decision to shift to the inside of MEANINGFUL STAR and improved to race behind SACRED IBIS.

He added that approaching the 600 Metres he had hoped that MEANINGFUL STAR would shift out to follow HELENE WISDOM STAR forward which would allow him the opportunity to shift out away from behind SACRED IBIS on the rail and commence to work his way to the outside of runners.

He said when MEANINGFUL STAR remained racing behind READY PLAYER ONE, he was not able to shift out and therefore not able to improve when racing behind SACRED IBIS and inside MEANINGFUL STAR.

He said because of the circumstances of the race rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, ZONE D was not able to obtain clear running and after the 300 Metres was shifted to the outside of CONQUEROR.

He said he was able to then commence riding ZONE D along and after the 150 Metres was shifted to the outside of EVERYONE'S DELIGHT to improve into tight running between that horse and MEANINGFUL STAR.

A veterinary inspection of CONQUEROR immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer??which had previously been reported.

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

ZONE D, GORYTUS and MEANINGFUL STAR were sent for sampling.