Recap by phillip woo

Invincible Missile quickened nicely from behind midfield to win going away 60m out. He was suited by the pace but was coming off a pair of strong seconds at Sha Tin and appears to have found a new avenue of riches with a switch to the Valley here. Shining Ace ran on strongly to grab second in the dying stages after sitting second last from a wide gate. Post-time favourite Californiadeepshot kept on gamely for a placing after getting some pressure out deep from early favourite Highly Proactive after leading from a good gate. Victory Power closed well settling last from the widest gate to fill the frame. Most Beautiful made good ground late from towards the rear to pick up a minor cheque. Loving A Boom came up flat in midfield. The big weight anchored him. Sunset Watch came up one-paced following a handy run on the fence. Highly Proactive faded after covering a tonne or ground up on the speed from a wide gate. He had an excuse.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (453) - KING KWONG HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1200Meters

On arrival at the start, SUNNY BOY, which was fractious in the Parade Ring and bumped a rail, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race.

LOVING A BOOM shifted out at the start and made contact with INVINCIBLE MISSILE.

SUNNY BOY began only fairly and then was ridden along in an attempt to obtain a forward position.

On jumping, MOST BEAUTIFUL was steadied away from the heels of CUE THE MUSIC which shifted in after bumping with HIGHLY PROACTIVE.

VICTORY POWER began very awkwardly, shifted in abruptly at the start and bumped SHINING ACE.

After being very awkwardly placed close to the heels of SHINING ACE for some distance, VICTORY POWER was then steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover.

After travelling a short distance, SUNNY BOY was bumped by INVINCIBLE MISSILE which shifted out marginally.

Also after travelling a short distance, LOVING A BOOM got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover behind LE TERROIR.

SHINING ACE was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover from a wide barrier.

When questioned, K Teetan (HIGHLY PROACTIVE) stated that after initially commencing to shift over satisfactorily to race outside CUE THE MUSIC near the 1000 Metres, HIGHLY PROACTIVE commenced to hang out making the turn after the 1000 Metres and it took some effort to shift HIGHLY PROACTIVE back in to race close to the outside of CUE THE MUSIC.

He said in the Back Straight HIGHLY PROACTIVE raced more tractably, however, making the turn after the 600 Metres again commenced to hang out.

He said HIGHLY PROACTIVE hung out worse after the 400 Metres and continued to hang out rounding the Home Turn, resulting in the horse making the Home Turn very awkwardly and shifting out a considerable number of horses.

He said HIGHLY PROACTIVE commenced to hang in approaching the 250 Metres and he had to straighten the horse to prevent causing interference to runners to his inside.

He said HIGHLY PROACTIVE then shifted out and made heavy contact with the hindquarters of LOVING A BOOM (T Piccone) which also shifted in at this stage.

He said after this HIGHLY PROACTIVE gave ground quickly.

As HIGHLY PROACTIVE hung out rounding the Home Turn, LOVING A BOOM was shifted out away from the heels of that horse, resulting in LE TERROIR, JADE THEATRE and SUNNY BOY all being hampered when taken wider.

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

The racing manners of HIGHLY PROACTIVE were considered unacceptable.

Having regard to the manner in which the horse hung out, the Stewards ruled that HIGHLY PROACTIVE must undergo a series of consecutive barrier trials around a bend prior to being permitted to race again.

In respect of the incident approaching the 200 Metres, T Piccone was advised that whilst the racing manners of HIGHLY PROACTIVE had played a significant part in this incident, nonetheless he must do his utmost in similar circumstances to prevent his mounts from shifting ground.

CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT, INVINCIBLE MISSILE and SHINING ACE were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Race 9 was put back 5 minutes.

2.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 23 February 2020 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of ALL BEST FRIENDS, GENERAL TRUMP, BEST FOR YOU, HINYUEN SWIFTNESS, YEE CHEONG PEGASUS, BREEZE OF SPRING, LONDON HALL, ABOVE, GOOD BEAUTY, STAR LUCK, CASIMIRO, JUNEAU PARK, GOLDEN SIXTY, CHAMPION'S WAY, AMAZING BEATS, COLUMBUS COUNTY, SEATTLE CHOICE, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, MR ALDAN and MONICA revealed no apparent abnormality.

3.

Racing Laboratory tests of HAPPY ALUMNI, SIMPLY FLUKE, JADE PHOENIX, PING HAI BRAVO, JUDY'S STAR, CHEERFUL LEADER, EVER LAUGH, MIGHTY GIANT, MY WINNER, TIME WARP, EXULTANT, BEAUTY RUSH, MONGOLIAN KING, BEAUTY GENERATION, KA YING STAR, FANTASY, TEAM SPIRIT, VALIANT DREAM, WELLINGTON, BALLISTIC KING, DRAGON GENERAL and HAPPY FUN (16.2.20) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 8: THUNDER STOMP at barriers on veterinary advice.

2.

Reprimands Race 1: C Schofield (GOLD VELVET) for shifting in close to the finishing line.

Race 4: Z Purton (WINNING WAYS) for shifting in approaching the 600 Metres.

3.

Warnings Race 6: M Chadwick (WINNING DELIGHT) for shifting in passing the 200 Metres.

Race 8: Apprentice K H Chan (MY ALLY) re his riding rounding the Home Turn.

Race 9: T Piccone (LOVING A BOOM) for shifting in approaching the 200 Metres.

4.

Barrier Trials Race 7: AMAZING STAR Race 8: THUNDER STOMP Race 9: HIGHLY PROACTIVE

5.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 4: WINNING WAYS Race 7: AMAZING STAR Race 8: THUNDER STOMP