Recap by phillip woo

Late-fancied favourite Time To Celebrate kept on gamely from a fast-finishing Rattan after getting away with soft fractions in front for a second win from four starts. Early public choice Rattan finished well when the gaps finally appeared following a one-off run fore of midfield to make it close on the wire. He lost nothing in defeat at his first run in the class and remains one to follow. Citron Spirit was anchored by the weight when push came to shove following a one-out, one-back run. He doesn't know how to run a bad race. Punted late Prawn Baba was one-paced over the last 150m following a handy run along the fence. He's better suited over the 1,800m. Keen Venture came on well travelling third from the rear after missing the kick. Gonna Run ran on without menacing after settling fourth from the rear. He's just not good enough at this level but certainly has claims if he finds his way down in Class Three.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (263) - MAURICE HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1600Meters

SACRED ELIXIR was withdrawn on 9.12.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (right front suspensory branch injury) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PRAWN BABA (Z Purton).

Before being allowed to race again, SACRED ELIXIR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

KEEN VENTURE began awkwardly and lost ground.

RISE HIGH began only fairly.

DR LISTENING was crowded for room on jumping between CIRCUIT GLORY and SIMPLY INVINCIBLE which shifted out.

Then from wide barriers, both SIMPLY INVINCIBLE and DR LISTENING were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

RIVET was crowded for room on jumping between CITRON SPIRIT and TIME TO CELEBRATE, both of which shifted ground.

C Y Ho (GONNA RUN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1500 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of KEEN VENTURE, causing that horse to be checked.

C Y Ho was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 20 December 2017 and to expire on Sunday, 24 December 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Ho's good race riding record.

RISE HIGH proved very difficult to settle for some distance after the 1500 Metres when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PRAWN BABA.

At the entrance to the Straight, RATTAN was awkwardly placed inside the heels of CITRON SPIRIT.

In the early part of the Straight, HAPPILABABY lay in under pressure.

Passing the 350 Metres, RIVET and KEEN VENTURE raced tight.

C Schofield (RATTAN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he shifted his mount out when not clear of CIRCUIT GLORY, causing that horse to be hampered and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 23 December 2017 and to expire on Thursday, 28 December 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

In addition, Jockey Schofield was fined $22,500.

Over the concluding stages, DR LISTENING raced in restricted room between KEEN VENTURE and HAPPILABABY.

For the majority of the race, HANG'S DECISION travelled wide and without cover.

Throughout the race, HAPPILABABY travelled wide and without cover.

TIME TO CELEBRATE and RATTAN were sent for sampling.

---

GENERAL:

1.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Happy Valley Racemeeting on 6 December 2017 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of YOURTHEWONFORME, WINNING CONTROLLER, INFINITY ENDEAVOUR, SHARPMIND, FAIRY TWINS, CHARITY GLORY, FOREVER POSH, OUR HERO, SEE ME NOW, PEACE COMBINATION, DR PROACTIVE, FORTUNE BO BO, MONEY BOY, LET'S TAKE IT EASY, SPARKLING SWORD, SUPER FORM, BANK ON RED, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY, LUCKY GIRL, THE GOLDEN AGE and DINOZZO revealed no apparent abnormality.

2.

Racing Laboratory tests of GOLDEN CANNON, JOLLY AMBER, NUMERO UNO, LONDON MASTER, FRUITFUL LIFE, PREMIUM CHAMPION, RULE THEE, HAYMAKER, SEVEN LUCK, SHOWING CHARACTER, CHEERFULJET, STARLOT, MASTER ALBERT, PERPETUAL JOYANCE, G-ONE LOVER, THOR THE GREATEST, MEGA HEART, CALIFORNIA FORTUNE, WONDERFUL JOURNEY, EASY HEDGE, KING OF MONGOLIA and SHARP SAILOR (29.11.17) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 10: SACRED ELIXIR on 9.12.17 on veterinary advice.

2.

Fine Race 10: C Schofield (RATTAN): $22,500 for careless riding near the 100 Metres.

3.

Severe Reprimand Race 5: H Bowman (LUCKY BUBBLES) for shifting out passing the 300 Metres.

4.

Reprimand Race 6: G Mosse (BLOCKER DEE) for shifting in after passing the 900 Metres.

5.

Warnings Race 6: J Moreira (LOCKHEED) for shifting out near the 200 Metres.

Race 9: A Badel (AFFLUENCE START) re his riding in the middle stages.

6.

Suspensions Race 4: J Crowley (SMART CALL) for careless riding approaching the 400 Metres (from 11 December 2017 until 21 December 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 3 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 6: G Mosse (BLOCKER DEE) for careless riding near the 900 Metres (from 11 December 2017 until 18 December 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 10: C Y Ho (GONNA RUN) for careless riding near the 1500 Metres (from 20 December 2017 until 24 December 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

C Schofield (RATTAN) for careless riding near the 100 Metres (from 23 December 2017 until 28 December 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

7.

Stalls Tests Race 2: ENCOURAGING Race 3: DUNDONNELL Race 9: RIGHTEOUS MATE

8.

Barrier Trials Race 2: ALWAYS WIN Race 4: HELENE CHARISMA

9.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: AMAZING AGILITY Race 2: ALWAYS WIN Race 4: HELENE CHARISMA Race 7: SEASONS BLOOM BEAUTY ONLY Race 10: SACRED ELIXIR