RACE 9 (225)

Shifted out at start and bumped, tracked leaders on the middle track, hard ridden after passing 350M, peaked 200M, weakened gradually final 100M. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
Apprentice E C W Wong pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference passing the 1100 Metres (see LIGHTNESS OF MUSIC). Sent for sampling post-race.

Jumped well from gate 1, tracked leaders on the middle track, hard ridden 350M, kept on evenly to 150M, weakened gradually close home.

Incident Report
Jumped awkwardly. Between the 350 Metres and the 300 Metres had difficulty obtaining clear running. Sent for sampling post-race.

Bumped on jumping, raced behind midfield on the stands' side, hard ridden 300M, peaked 200M, weakened thereafter. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
Bumped with ALPHA STRIKE shortly after the start. Making the first turn near the 900 Metres hung out and made contact with GOLDENTRONICMIGHTY which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. Z Purton reported that his mount hung out throughout the event. He added that when racing tight to the inside of ALPHA STRIKE in the early stages his mount lost ground when it shifted out towards ALPHA STRIKE. Sent for sampling post-race.

Began only fairly and crowded, raced towards rear on the middle track, 3 lengths back, made no progress final 400M.

Incident Report
No report.

Made contact at start, tracked leaders on the stands' side, hard ridden after passing 300M, finished off well to take 2nd, no threat to the winner.

Incident Report
Jumped only fairly. In the early stages got its head up when being shifted across behind runners. Between the 400 Metres and the 300 Metres had difficulty obtaining clear running and near the 300 Metres made contact with CORNERSTONE when being shifted to the outside of TRIUMPHANT MORE.

Jumped well from gate 13, sent forward to take the lead on the stands' rail, hard ridden approaching 300M but only showed limited response, headed 250M, kept on evenly to take a place.

Incident Report
On jumping made heavy contact with LIGHTNESS OF MUSIC, became unbalanced, shifted in and made contact with ALPHA STRIKE. Held up for clear running between the 450 Metres and the 350 Metres. Near the 250 Metres was steadied and shifted to the inside of ALPHA STRIKE to continue into clear running.

Bounded on jumping and lost ground, raced at rear on the stands' rail, made some progress final 300M.

Incident Report
Bumped near the 300 Metres.

Average to begin, raced prominently in the middle of the track, hard ridden from 300M but only showed limited response, ran on evenly.

Incident Report
Shifted in making the first turn near the 900 Metres and made contact with SUPER STRONG KID. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported.

Made contact at start, raced prominently, peaked 300M, weakened final furlong.

Incident Report
Jumped only fairly. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Began only fairly, raced behind midfield on the middle track, closer in the middle stages, a length back at 400M, hard ridden approaching 300M, showed very good response, took the lead 250M, kept on strongly to the line and scored.

Incident Report
Jumped only fairly.

Bumped on jumping, positioned 2 lengths behind the leader, nearer to the middle track, no clear run until approaching 150M, one-paced thereafter.

Incident Report
Made heavy contact with ARMOR GOLDEN EAGLE on jumping. Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. Apprentice E C W Wong (MATTERS MOST) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 1100 Metres he allowed his mount to shift in when not clear of LIGHTNESS OF MUSIC, resulting in LIGHTNESS OF MUSIC having to be checked to avoid MATTERS MOST and further he continued to allow his mount to shift in when not clear of ALPHA STRIKE, resulting in ALPHA STRIKE having to be also checked to avoid MATTERS MOST. Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 and to expire on Sunday, 21 December 2025 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Apprentice Wong was fined $30,000. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his neutral race riding record. M Chadwick stated that after being crowded in the early stages his mount raced too keenly before giving ground in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, LIGHTNESS OF MUSIC will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Moderately away from gate 14, raced in midfield on the stands' rail, hard ridden approaching 300M, kept on evenly to the line.

Incident Report
Bumped shortly after start. Checked passing the 1100 Metres (see LIGHTNESS OF MUSIC). Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages of the event and refused to settle. C Y Ho stated that his mount was crowded in the early stages before giving ground in the Home Straight. Trainer C Fownes stated that, in his view, the disappointing performance was due to the manner in which the horse raced throughout the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of ALPHA STRIKE, a last start winner, was considered disappointing. Before being allowed to race again, ALPHA STRIKE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.