RACE 3 (195)

Slowly away, raced towards rear on the inside, 2 wide from 850M, angled out 350M, very wide into straight, finished off very strongly to take 2nd, nearest on line.

Incident Report
Sent for sampling post-race.

Made contact at start, raced prominently, 3 wide, took the lead 1150M, led by a length in the middle stages, peaked early in straight, headed 200M, weakened gradually final 150M.

Incident Report
H Bentley pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 100 Metres (see COUNTRY DANCER). Sent for sampling post-race.

Away with them, raced 3 wide with cover in midfield, commenced move 450M, made little progress early in straight, no extra final 200M.

Incident Report
No report.

Shifted in at start and made contact, raced better than midfield on the outside, no cover throughout, unable to maintain position from 500M, eased early in straight.

Incident Report
Bumped at the start. Raced keenly in the middle stages and near the 800 Metres was steadied away from RUBY SAILING.

Taken back from the widest draw, raced at tail, saved ground on turn, made good progress in straight to take a place, no threat to the first two.

Incident Report
K C Leung was found guilty of a careless riding charge for causing interference approaching the 800 Metres (see RUBY SAILING). Hampered and taken out near the 100 Metres.

Began well, raced better than midfield on the inside early, dropped to midfield after passing 1000M, saved ground on turn, made some progress early in straight, peaked 150M, weakened gradually close home. (Blood in trachea.)

Incident Report
No report.

Began well from gate 1, raced prominently on the inside, took the lead 1250M, headed 1150M, positioned 2 lengths behind the leader in the middle stages, showed limited response early in straight, hampered 150M, eased thereafter.

Incident Report
Bumped at the start. K C Leung (COSMO NAVIGATOR) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 800 Metres he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of RUBY SAILING, resulting in RUBY SAILING having to be checked away from the heels of COSMO NAVIGATOR. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Thursday, 26 December 2024 and to expire on Thursday, 2 January 2025 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, Jockey Leung was fined $55,000. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his poor race riding record. Passing the 50 Metres was eased when placed in restricted room between VERBIER and COSMO NAVIGATOR which was taken out. When questioned, Z Purton stated that his mount, which is a reported "roarer”, raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages of the event and made a respiratory noise in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. Sent for sampling post-race.

Jumped well, raced in 2nd, 2 wide, a length back turning in, showed limited response early in straight, weakened gradually final 150M.

Incident Report
Shortly after the start was crowded between JOYFUL FRIENDSHIP and E GLORY which shifted out slightly.

Moderately away, raced behind midfield on the inside, angled out approaching 400M, slightly hampered 350M, very wide into straight, made no impression in straight.

Incident Report
From the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 700 Metres made contact with the running rail when racing tight to the inside of JOYFUL FRIENDSHIP. H Bentley (WINNING HEART) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he allowed his mount to shift out when not clear of COSMO NAVIGATOR, resulting in COSMO NAVIGATOR being taken out and crowding the running of COUNTRY DANCER which was checked. H Bentley was suspended from riding in races for one Hong Kong raceday to be conducted on Wednesday, 4 December 2024 at Happy Valley. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his excellent race riding record.

Jumped only fairly, raced 2 wide slightly better than midfield, commenced move after passing 400M, took the lead 200M, kept on well to the line and scored. (See Racing Incidents.)

Incident Report
From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the event, M F Poon reported that his mount did not travel well during the event and may not have appreciated the "Good to Yielding” track condition. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Taken back from a wide draw, raced towards rear on the outside, 5 lengths back on turn, very wide into straight, finished off well to make frame without threatening.

Incident Report
Shortly after the start was bumped. Passing the 50 Metres was checked to avoid COUNTRY DANCER. After the event, J McDonald reported that after settling back in the field his mount was under pressure from the 600 Metres and in the Home Straight was unable to make up any ground. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Began awkwardly, raced 2 wide behind midfield, a bit closer on turn, made some progress early in straight, peaked 150M, ran on evenly to the line.

Incident Report
No report.