Recap by phillip woo

Time To Celebrate let down strongly after angling out for a clear run at the 200m following a patient ride sixth from the back to just out-finish Keen Venture for a third win from five starts. He's stamped himself as a serious Classic Mile chance. Keen Venture finished strongly despite shifting ground under pressure after travelling one-off a position behind Time To Celebrate to make it close. He's a good yard stick at a mile in this grade. Plunged to jump a clear second in betting, Doctor Geoff ran on strongly very wide out after trailing the field for the most part from a wide gate. He's a force to be reckoned with going forward at a mile and further. Rivet ran on steadily after travelling worse than midfield on the fence in a better run at his third start. Solar Hei Hei had his chance following a handy run along the fence. He rarely runs a bad race but keeps finding one or a few too good and will require ratings relief.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (328) - VIOLET HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1600Meters

GOOD STANDING was withdrawn on 6.1.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter RIVET (T Berry).

Before being allowed to race again, GOOD STANDING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

After being placed in the barriers, the hood applied to RIVET was replaced.

Also after being placed in the barriers, CIRCUIT GLORY became fractious and got its front legs over the front gates.

CIRCUIT GLORY was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said, after the necessary consultations, it was suitable to race.

Before being allowed to race again, CIRCUIT GLORY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test.

RIVET began only fairly.

HAPPY AGILITY began awkwardly.

DRAGON LIPS and LUCKY GIRL were crowded for room on jumping between SOLAR HEI HEI and KEEN VENTURE which shifted out.

TIME TO CELEBRATE began only fairly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between SPEEDY LONGWAH and RISE HIGH which was taken out by BIG BANG BONG.

In this incident, SPEEDY LONGWAH became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by TIME TO CELEBRATE.

TIME TO CELEBRATE was then shifted across behind runners.

From the outside barriers, SPEEDY LONGWAH and DOCTOR GEOFF were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Passing the 1400 Metres, CIRCUIT GLORY got its head up and travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind DRAGON LIPS.

CIRCUIT GLORY was then briefly crowded for room near the 1250 Metres when racing tight inside DRAGON LIPS which was racing tight inside BIG BANG BONG.

CIRCUIT GLORY lay out rounding the Home Turn.

After the 300 Metres, DOCTOR GEOFF commenced to lay out under pressure and then approaching the 200 Metres shifted out abruptly.

After being straightened, DOCTOR GEOFF again shifted out abruptly passing the 150 Metres and continued to hang out to the outside rail.

The racing manners of DOCTOR GEOFF were considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, DOCTOR GEOFF will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial.

Passing the 300 Metres, CIRCUIT GLORY lay out under pressure, resulting in K C Leung, its rider, having to stop riding and changing his whip into his left hand.

Passing the 150 Metres, RIVET raced tight inside KEEN VENTURE.

Throughout the race, HANG'S DECISION travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, Z Purton stated that he had not been given any specific instructions as to how to ride RISE HIGH.

He said however connections of the horse had been disappointed that RISE HIGH had been slow to begin in a number of its races and had consequently not been able to obtain a forward position.

He said he rode the horse in a barrier trial prior to its most recent start over 1600 Metres at Sha Tin and on that occasion the horse had trialed well when ridden in the lead.

He said RISE HIGH began satisfactorily today and he therefore felt that the opportunity existed for the horse to take up a forward position rather than being steadied from the wide barrier which would have resulted in it having to again race back in the field.

He said he had to commence to ride RISE HIGH earlier in the race than he wanted to as the horse was laying out rounding the Home Turn and he attempted to have it rail better.

He added nonetheless RISE HIGH was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race when ridden in a forward position.

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

A veterinary inspection of DRAGON LIPS and HAPPY AGILITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

TIME TO CELEBRATE and KEEN VENTURE were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

After the running of Race 6, the track classification was officially changed from "Good to Yielding??to "Good?? This change in the opinion of the Stewards should be recorded as being retrospective.

As a consequence of this, the official results will show Race 6 being run on a track rated "Good??

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 1 January 2018 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of WINNING BOY, SOCCER BRAVE, GOLDEN CANNON, VIVA COUNCIL, AMAZING ALWAYS, EMPIRE STAR, WUSHU CHAMPION, BRILLIANT DREAM, NICE KICK, HAVE FUN TOGETHER, UNICRON JEWELLERY, GODSPEED, SUPER MISSILE, LUCKY LUCKY, INFINITY ENDEAVOUR, PRINCE HARMONY, CONTE, HEALTHY JOYFUL, CIRCUIT HASSLER, BRING IT ON, TAI SMART, FIFTY FIFTY, BEAT THE CLOCK, LOCKHEED, KINGSFIELD and NEW ASIA SUNRISE revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of SUM WIN DRAGON, HAPPY ROCKY, BOSSIEE, EIGHTY EIGHTY, SPARKLING DRAGON, WIN BEAUTY WIN, ALCARI, DIAMOND FRIENDS, VICTORY FOLLOW ME, BETTER CHOICE, NAMJONG PLUS, HINYUEN SWIFTNESS, HOT KING PRAWN, WATER DIVINER, INFINITY ENDEAVOUR, VICTORY MACHINE, MOST BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY WIN, ROMAN IMPERO, EXULTANT, CONSORT, APOLLO'S CHOICE, CALIFORNIA JOY, EXPERTO CREDE (23.12.17) and SWEET BEAN, AUDACITY, GOLD TALENT, THE CHAMP, TREASURE AND GOLD, DON'T MISS, DESTIN, SPEEDY KING, MR RIGHT, LUCKY LUCKY, CLEAR CHOICE, BORN DRAGON, ENERGETIC CLASS, MONEY BOY, E-SUPER, CIRCUIT KING, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY, HEROIC GURU, CALIFORNIA WHIP, SINGAPORE SLING, BEAUTY PRINCE (27.12.17) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 10: GOOD STANDING on 6.1.18 on veterinary advice.

2.

Fines Race 1: K C Leung (PEOPLE'S CHAMPION): $25,000 for careless riding near the 400 Metres.

Race 8: N Rawiller (EVERBRAVE): $25,000 for careless riding near the 200 Metres.

3.

Reprimands Race 1: U Rispoli (HOT HOT PEPPER) for shifting out passing the 300 Metres.

Z Purton (GOLDEN DASH) for shifting in passing the 200 Metres.

Race 7: K Teetan (PREMIERE) for shifting in after passing the winning post.

Race 8: K C Leung (GOLDEN HARVEST) for shifting out passing the 400 Metres.

4.

Warnings Race 1: A Badel (BEAUT BEAUT) for shifting out near the 400 Metres.

K Teetan (REFINED TREASURE) for improving into a run where there was insufficient room passing the 300 Metres.

Race 5: T Berry (HAPPY WARRIOR) for reducing the tempo passing the 1100 Metres.

5.

Suspensions Race 1: K C Leung (PEOPLE'S CHAMPION) for careless riding near the 400 Metres (from 13 January 2018 until 18 January 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 8: N Rawiller (EVERBRAVE) for careless riding near the 200 Metres (from 13 January 2018 until 18 January 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 9: J Moreira (PING HAI STAR) for careless riding passing the 250 Metres (from 13 January 2018 until 18 January 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

6.

Stalls Tests Race 9: PING HAI STAR Race 10: CIRCUIT GLORY

7.

Barrier Trials Race 1: BEST RUNNER Race 5: ELITE POWER Race 6: STAR OF HONG KONG PENZANCE Race 10: DOCTOR GEOFF

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: BEST RUNNER Race 4: HOME RUN Race 6: STAR OF HONG KONG PENZANCE Race 10: GOOD STANDING