Recap by phillip woo

Plunged late, Farshad held off the favourites after hitting the front 160m out after a dream run in the box-seat for a second career win. He had put the writing on the wall with a runner-up performance last start. Savaquin was eating into the margin late to just miss after a patient ride third last from a wide gate. He was giving the winner 18 pounds which proved the difference in the end. Sunny Star rallied well to finish a close third after angling into the open 250m out following a one-off run better than midfield. It was another solid performance following a last start win and he might even want 1,800m now. Well-backed late, Nothing New stayed on well to just edge the fast-finishing Naboo Star for a quartet spot after a prominent run on the fence. He's building towards a win in his five starts. Naboo Star finished nicely but left things too late travelling last from a tricky gate. It was another honest effort over this Valley trip despite a stable change. Surrealism wasn't too far away in the end after a wide without cover run in midfield. He's not far off a bottom.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (478) - CANAL HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Meters

On jumping, NOTHING NEW was bumped by SUNNY STAR which shifted in after being bumped by E STAR which began awkwardly.

NABOO STAR was checked on jumping when badly crowded for room between SAVAQUIN and SURREALISM which shifted out abruptly.

In this incident, NABOO STAR bumped the hindquarters of SAVAQUIN which became badly unbalanced.

SURREALISM and SAVAQUIN were then steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.

From the outside barrier, PIANO SOLO was steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Passing the 1600 Metres, E STAR shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of SUNNY STAR.

Passing the 1300 Metres, NOTHING NEW got its head up when awkwardly placed behind TOTAL POWER.

After this, NOTHING NEW continued to travel keenly and approaching the 1200 Metres shifted out towards the heels of FARSHAD.

HEAVENLY THOUGHT travelled wide and without cover until approaching the 600 Metres and then in the Straight gave ground.

A veterinary inspection of HEAVENLY THOUGHT immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

The performance of HEAVENLY THOUGHT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable.

Before being allowed to race again, HEAVENLY THOUGHT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

Near the 500 Metres, GIFT OF LIFELINE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUNNY STAR.

Rounding the Home Turn, PIANO SOLO was held up for clear running behind SUNNY STAR.

Approaching the 200 Metres, SUNNY STAR and SAVAQUIN raced tight.

Then near the 150 Metres, SUNNY STAR raced in restricted room between SURREALISM and SAVAQUIN.

Passing the 150 Metres, PIANO SOLO was shifted out away from the heels of NOTHING NEW.

PIANO SOLO then had difficulty obtaining clear running and was shifted out further behind SURREALISM and then SUNNY STAR to obtain clear running passing the 50 Metres.

When questioned, H T Mo stated that he was instructed to ride TOTAL POWER positively in the early stages and obtain a forward position and then to steady his mount to allow runners to improve around TOTAL POWER and to ultimately obtain a position with cover behind the speed.

He said in accordance with his instructions he rode TOTAL POWER along in the early stages and approaching the winning post on the first occasion he cleared runners to his inside to race on the rail.

He said he then steadied TOTAL POWER with a view to allowing either FARSHAD or HEAVENLY THOUGHT to improve around his mount, however, when those horses did not continue forward, this resulted in TOTAL POWER travelling keenly and leading which had not been the intention.

FARSHAD and SAVAQUIN were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

The following horse was replated in the saddling stalls:- Race 2: COSMO CLASSIC (right hind)

2.

Races 3 - 8 were each put back 5 minutes.

3.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 28 February 2021 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of IRON KING, REGENCY POET, SUMMIT CHEERS, GOKO, THE CROWN, HIGHLY PROACTIVE, CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT, FORTUNE MASTER, ZONE D, STUNNING IMPACT, BEAUTY CHEERS, SIMPLY SPECTACULAR, COPARTNER AMBITION, GREEN ENVY, ALL FOR ST PAUL'S, BRIGHT KID, VINCY, LOOKING GREAT, FANTASTIC WAY, DUBLIN STAR, WINNER METHOD, VALIANT DREAM, SILVER EXPRESS and UNCLE STEVE revealed no apparent abnormality.

4.

Racing Laboratory tests of UNTOLD RICHES, RESOLUTE, HAPPY TANGO, PANFIELD, FLYING QUEST, WAIKUKU, SOUTHERN LEGEND, EZRA, PAKISTAN FRIEND, JOYFUL HEART, VUKAN, CHARITY GRACE, MAN STAR, LUCKY FUN, GOLDEN SIXTY, FURORE, CZARSON, SILVER FIG, WE THE SOUTH, TOURBILLON DIAMOND, HEALTHY HAPPY, RUSSIAN EMPEROR, TEMPEST EXPRESS and FLAGSHIP GLORY (21.2.21) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Reprimands Race 2: Apprentice C L Chau (LADY FIRST) for shifting out passing the 400 Metres.

B Shinn (SAVVY KINGMAN) for shifting in at the 300 Metres.

Race 4: B Shinn (DONC JE SUIS) for shifting out near the 175 Metres.

Race 7: A Hamelin (PARTERRE) for shifting out at the entrance to the Straight.



2.

Warnings Race 2: Apprentice C L Chau (LADY FIRST) for shifting in passing the 1600 Metres.

B Shinn (SAVVY KINGMAN) for shifting in passing the 400 Metres.

Race 4: R Maia (BRIGHT VISION) for shifting in near the 1300 Metres.

Race 6: M F Poon (SPLIT OF A SECOND) for shifting in passing the 900 Metres.

Race 7: Apprentice C L Chau (HARMONY SPIRIT) re his riding approaching the 400 Metres.

3.

Protest/Objection Race 2

4.

Bleeder Race 3: LUCKY PUZZLE

5.

Barrier Trials Race 2: COSMO CLASSIC Race 7: YO BEAUTY Race 9: HEAVENLY THOUGHT

6.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: COSMO CLASSIC OWNERS' STAR Race 7: YO BEAUTY Race 9: HEAVENLY THOUGHT

7.

Course and False Outside Rail Arrangement A Course.

8.

Rolling Arrangement The track was rolled after race

5.