Recap by phillip woo

Following a patient ride third last in between runners from gate four, Embraces dashed nicely down the outside to take control 50m out for back-to-back mile wins despite a rise in class. Glorious Success found one too smart after rushing to the lead 150m out following a wide trip with cover from just worse than midfield. He's a winner waiting to happen. After covering ground towards the rear, Blessed Nation's bid just came up short. He appreciated the rise in trip. Fallon ran on steadily for fourth after a one-off trip from midfield. It was another honest effort over 1,600m. Lucy In the Sky peaked on his run 100m out after looming as a winning chance 150m out following a rails run from midfield. It wasn't a bad effort carrying top weight. Lupo Solitario made good ground late to just miss fifth after biding his time five back on the fence. He's shown flashes of ability in two of three 1,600m runs. After sitting last for the most part after jumping in the air at the start, Lo Rider was next best despite his rider giving up the chase when impeded 100m out.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten : (346) - PAK TIN HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1600Meters

Horse No 1 LUCY IN THE SKY (J275) K Teetan Between the 450 Metres and the 350 Metres was held up for clear running.

Lay out in the Home Straight.

Horse No 2 CHARMING LEGEND (K127) K C Leung A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Horse No 3 CHING (G380) B Avdulla From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

After the event, B Avdulla stated that after placing his mount under pressure in the early part of the Home Straight it did not respond to his riding.

He said when he put the whip away near the 200 Metres and commenced to ride his mount out hands and heels, soon after CHING commenced to respond to his riding before making good ground over the concluding stages.

Horse No 4 LO RIDER (K161) H Bowman As the start was effected became fractious and as a consequence reared, jumped awkwardly and lost ground.

A warning was placed on the barrier manners of the horse.

Over the final 150 Metres was held up for clear running behind GLORIOUS SUCCESS and could not be ridden out to the finish of the event.

Horse No 5 LUPO SOLITARIO (J495) M L Yeung For some distance near the 300 Metres was held up for clear running.

Horse No 6 PACKING TURBINE (J470) A Atzeni Near the 250 Metres raced tight between STELLAR SWIFT and IVY LEAGUE which shifted out.

After the event, A Atzeni stated that with the pace of the event being run outside of standard time in the middle stages, when the pace increased on the Home Turn, his mount came under immediate pressure and was unable to finish the race off thereafter.

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

Horse No 7 FALLON (H219) M Chadwick Bumped at the start.

Near the 350 Metres had difficulty obtaining clear running between AMAZING VICTORY and GLORIOUS SUCCESS.

Horse No 8 BLESSED NATION (J292) L Ferraris From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Horse No 10 AMAZING VICTORY (G123) K De Melo Bumped at the start.

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

Horse No 11 GLORIOUS SUCCESS (K062) Z Purton Sent for sampling post-race.

Horse No 12 IVY LEAGUE (H116) A Hamelin Between the 400 Metres and the 200 Metres was held up for clear running.

In the Home Straight lay in.

Horse No 13 STELLAR SWIFT (J139) A Pouchin Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event.

Horse No 14 EMBRACES (J276) C L Chau Shortly after the start made contact with AMAZING VICTORY, shifted in and bumped FALLON.

Near the 200 Metres C L Chau dropped his left rein for a number of strides.

Sent for sampling post-race.

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GENERAL:

1.

8 January 2025 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 9 (336) NOBLE PURSUIT - H Bowman was interviewed relative to the tactics he adopted in the early stages where he shifted to a position one-off the rail near the 1500 Metres to follow SUNSTRIDER.

H Bowman stated that due to the pattern of racing during the meeting, he felt it was advantageous to endeavour to get his horse to the outside, particularly as NOBLE PURSUIT races best when in this position.

He said for this reason he elected to shift out to follow SUNSTRIDER after the 1500 Metres as he felt such manoeuvre would allow SUNSTRIDER to shift to the rail and provide NOBLE PURSUIT with a trailing position behind DILBAGH.

He said when SUNSTRIDER remained racing one-off, SIMPLE HEDGE was able to improve to that runner's inside and as a result NOBLE PURSUIT settled further back in the field than what he had anticipated.

He added along the Back Straight whilst the opportunity was available to shift in and follow SIMPLE HEDGE, he elected to shift out to attempt to position his mount to the outside but was prevented from doing so when SPEED DRAGON held its position to his outside.

He said as a result near the 550 Metres he was forced to go back to the inside to start a forward move and follow SIMPLE HEDGE.

H Bowman reinforced his views that NOBLE PURSUIT was disadvantaged by racing to the inside and also was not assisted by the track pattern on the night as it was forced to make a run on the inside.

2.

Racing Laboratory tests of FUN ELITE, ALWAYS MY FOLKS, ON THE LASH, CHILLI BABA, TURTLE AGAIN, THE BOOM BOX, INVINCIBLE LUCKY, HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE, MAGIC CONTROL, FUN TOGETHER, DEVAS TWELVE, BRILLIANT EXPRESS, PHOENIX LIGHT, YUEN LONG ELITE, SOLID WIN, FLYING LUCK, LEGEND ST PAUL'S , PATCH OF THETA, DROMBEG BANNER, CHATEAUNEUF, STORMING DRAGON, DANCING CODE, ROMANTIC SON, LIFELINE EXPRESS, MY WISH, STEPS AHEAD and HUGE WAVE (1.1.25) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 4 BIG RED on 11.1.25 on veterinary advice

2.

Fines Race 2 Y L Chung: $2,000 for a declaration error K C Leung (DRAGON FOUR SEAS): $110,000 for careless riding near the 300 Metres B Thompson (GROOVY FEELING): $15,000 for careless riding leaving the 800 Metres

3.

Reprimand Race 7 Apprentice E C W Wong (DANCING CODE) for shifting out from after the 400 Metres until near the 250 Metres

4.

Warnings Race 1 L Ferraris (EXCELLENT DADDY) for shifting in near the winning post Race 2 Apprentice E C W Wong (TACTICAL COMMAND) re his riding in the early stages Race 4 M Chadwick (ISLAND BUDDY) for shifting in shortly after the start A Hamelin (NOBLE DELUXE) tor shifting in shortly after the start C L Chau (TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR) for shifting in near the 250 Metres Race 5 K C Leung (MASTER TRILLION) for steadying the pace in the middle stages A Badel (JOLLY JUMPER) for shifting in near the 350 Metres Race 8 M L Yeung (GREAT STATE) for shifting out near the 250 Metres Race 9 A Pouchin (KING MILES) for shifting in near the 200 Metres

5.

Suspensions Race 2 K C Leung (DRAGON FOUR SEAS) for careless riding near the 300 Metres (from 5 February 2025 until 13 February 2025 on which day he may resume race riding - 3 Hong Kong racedays) B Thompson (GROOVY FEELING) for careless riding leaving the 800 Metres (Wednesday, 5 February 2025 - 1 Hong Kong raceday) Race 9 A Pouchin (KING MILES) for careless riding near the 100 Metres (Wednesday, 5 February 2025 - 1 Hong Kong raceday)

6.

Barrier Trials Race 1 FUNG (unacceptable performance) Race 3 JOLLY COMPANION (disappointing performance) Race 5 CALIFORNIA STAR (barrier manners)

7.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1 FUNG Race 3 JOLLY COMPANION Race 4 BIG RED Race 8 GREAT STATE

8.

Rolling Arrangement The track was rolled after Race 7