RACE 7 (461)

Began well from gate 13, raced behind midfield on the stands' side, made good progress final 400M to take a place, no threat to the first two.

Incident Report
Near the 200 Metres D B McMonagle dropped his right rein for a number of strides. Sent for sampling post-race.

Jumped only fairly, raced in midfield on the middle track, hard ridden from 300M but showed no response, weakened inside final furlong. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
Sent for sampling post-race.

Jumped only fairly, positioned 1-3/4L behind the leader, 2 away from the stands' rail, commenced move after passing 350M, took the lead 250M, headed 150M, kept on well to take 2nd.

Incident Report
Jumped awkwardly and lost ground.

Moderately away, raced behind midfield, crowded near 650M, 4 lengths or so back in the middle stages, made no impression final 400M. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
Bumped on the hindquarters on jumping. K C Leung stated that from the outside barrier he was instructed to endeavour to go forward. He said when BRIGHT DAY commenced well he rode it along to comply with his instructions but unable to cross runners to his inside and was obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

Bumped shortly after start, positioned 1 to 2 lengths behind the leader, nearer to the middle track, peaked 300M, weakened gradually thereafter.

Incident Report
A Badel stated that his mount jumped well today and as a consequence was able to hold a more forward position.

Jumped with them, raced better than midfield on the stands' side, peaked on run 350M, weakened final furlong. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
Hung in over the final 200 Metres under pressure.

Bumped start, positioned 1 to 2 lengths behind the leader on the middle track, peaked 500M, weakened gradually thereafter. (Lost left front plate.)

Incident Report
No report.

On jumping made contact with the left side of its starting gate, raced at tail, still 8 lengths back in the middle stages, made some headway final 400M.

Incident Report
Shifted out on jumping and made heavy contact with PERIDOT. From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Fast into stride, raced prominently on the stands' rail, hard ridden from 400M but only showed limited response, kept on same pace to the line.

Incident Report
Bumped at the start.

Slightly slow out, raced at rear on the stands' rail, passed some tired runners final 400M.

Incident Report
Bumped heavily on jumping. From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Bumped start, sent forward to take the lead, led by a length at 400M, peaked and headed 250M, weakened thereafter. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
Bumped at the start. K Teetan reported that his mount raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages and hung out. He said as a result TOP PEAK was left without a finishing effort in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Began only fairly, raced at rear, 7 lengths or so back in the middle stages, made good progress final 400M without threatening.

Incident Report
C Y Ho could offer no excuse for the horse’s disappointing performance. Trainer W Y So stated the horse had pleased him leading into the race but could offer no excuse for the performance. He added having regard to today’s disappointing performance he would spell MABUBU. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of MABUBU was considered disappointing as compared to its previous race starts. Before being allowed to race again, MABUBU will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

On jumping was bumped heavily on the hindquarters and became unbalanced, raced in midfield on the middle track, hard ridden approaching 350M, took the lead 150M, kept on very well to the line, won by 2 lengths.

Incident Report
No report.

Out with rest, raced 2 lengths behind the leader, nearer to the middle track, hard ridden from 300M but only showed limited response, peaked 150M, weakened thereafter.

Incident Report
When questioned H Bowman stated that whilst he had expected to settle back in the field he did not intend to be as far back as what he was in the early stages. He said after shifting his mount behind runners in the early stages he was satisfied with the horse settling back in the field where it was positioned as TURIN CHAMPIONS was racing comfortably. He said as he felt the pace was genuine in the early stages he did not push TURIN CHAMPIONS along as he had expected the field to come back to him on the Home Turn and his mount was racing in a comfortable rhythm. He added when asked for an effort from the 600 Metres TURIN CHAMPIONS lay in and as it was carrying the top weight of 135 lbs and being an inexperienced 3 year old he elected to make ground on the inside, particularly as he felt it was advantageous to do so given today’s track pattern. He said after improving on the Home Turn he followed BIG RETURN into the race from the 400 Metres but had difficulty obtaining clear running between the 400 Metres and the 200 Metres. He said after improving to the outside of BIG RETURN approaching the 100 Metres he then became badly held up over the concluding stages behind BRIGHT DAY and as a consequence TURIN CHAMPIONS went to the finish of the race without being tested. Trainer D A Hayes stated that whilst he expected the horse to settle back in the field his preference would have been for the horse to make a run wider on the track. He added after Jockey Bowman explained the reasons why he elected to go to the inside he accepted his explanation. After considering his explanation the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Bowman were reasonable in the circumstances. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Sent for sampling post-race.<20/3/2026 TURIN CHAMPIONS (L024) – Race 7 – Sha Tin Racemeeting - 22 February 2026>The Racing Stewards have received advice from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory that the post-race urine sample taken from TURIN CHAMPIONS (L024) after being placed ninth in Race 7 – Peach Blossom Handicap conducted at the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 22 February 2026, has been found to contain omeprazole, a substance used to treat equine gastric ulcers. Analysis of the reserve portion of the sample conducted by the Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques France has also confirmed the presence of omeprazole in the sample.Trainer of TURIN CHAMPIONS, Mr D A Hayes has been advised of the analytical findings. The matter has now adjourned to a date to be fixed to allow for further evidence to be obtained in respect to the matter. <9/4/2026 TURIN CHAMPIONS (L024) Race 7 – Sha Tin Racemeeting – 22 February 2026 Incident Report> Mr Hayes was found guilty of a charge under Rule 140(1) in that as the trainer of TURIN CHAMPIONS he did fail to ensure that TURIN CHAMPIONS was free of any prohibited substance on 22 February 2026, the day on which TURIN CHAMPIONS was declared to race and until such time as the horse was released by the Stewards after it raced in Race 7 – Peach Blossom Handicap 1400 Metres conducted at the Sha Tin racemeeting on that day. As the Racing Stewards were satisfied that Mr Hayes had not taken all proper precautions to prevent the exposure to the prohibited substance on the day of racing and having regard his good disciplinary record and his submissions on penalty, he was fined the sum of $60,000.Rule 138(2) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Rules of Racing provides that if a prohibited substance is detected in a horse on raceday that the horse be disqualified from any race in which it has competed in on that day, unless the Stewards are satisfied that the administration of, or exposure to, the prohibited substance occurred after the race. Accordingly, TURIN CHAMPIONS was disqualified from its ninth placing in Race 7 – Peach Blossom Handicap 1400 Metres conducted at the Sha Tin racemeeting on 22 February 2026.