Recap by phillip woo

Little Dragon assumed the front 500m out after tracking the speed from a wide gate and kept up a good gallop for the win with a return to his favourite course and distance after an eye-catching effort on the dirt last start. He rarely runs a bad race over this Valley trip. Fantastic Kaka straightened four deep following a box-seat run and finished well to grab second in deep stretch. He's capable of a big run on his day but has always had niggling leg issues. Land Grant wouldn't go down without a fight after moving to second entering the straight. It was his best effort in a while but he too is a runner with recurring leg issues. Late-fancied favourite Wisky got shuffled back to travel worse than midfield approaching the final bend and stayed on all right near the inside to just miss a placing. He tends to raise his game over this course. Nitro Express was set too great a task after getting shuffled back to near last entering the straight but did finish up well. He had excuses. Magical Beauty stayed on all right travelling worse than midfield from a wide gate. He's in the right grade and needs to be kept safe from a better gate. Early favourite Unicorn kept up a grinding effort after covering too much ground from beyond midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (516)-PEDDER HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Metres

ENORMOUS HONOUR and NITRO EXPRESS bumped at the start.

After this, ENORMOUS HONOUR was hard ridden, however, failed to muster speed.

UNICORN and ELECTRONIC PHOENIX were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Passing the 1200 Metres, FANTASTIC KAKA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GRAND HARBOUR.

WISKY, which was following, was awkwardly placed behind FANTASTIC KAKA in consequence.

After the 1000 Metres, LITTLE ISLAND was taken into a positon wide and without cover by ISTANBUL BEY which shifted out.

LITTLE ISLAND then commenced to prove difficult to settle despite the efforts of its rider and was consequently allowed to improve its position.

C Y Ho (ISTANBUL BEY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 800 Metres he directed his mount out away from the heels of MAGICAL BEAUTY and made heavy contact with UNICORN, causing that horse to become unbalanced and be severely hampered when taken wider.

C Y Ho was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 5 April 2017 and to expire on Monday, 10 April 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.

Passing the 700 Metres, UNICORN was taken wider by ISTANBUL BEY which shifted to the outside of LITTLE ISLAND.

After this, UNICORN was steadied and shifted back in to regain cover.

Passing the 400 Metres, WISKY and FANTASTIC KAKA raced tight as WISKY improved into tight running between FANTASTIC KAKA and GRAND HARBOUR which was giving ground.

Rounding the Home Turn, UNICORN raced tight between MAGICAL BEAUTY and ISTANBUL BEY and at the entrance to the Straight was shifted to the outside of ISTANBUL BEY to obtain clear running.

Passing the 400 Metres, NITRO EXPRESS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WISKY.

After passing the 50 Metres, ELECTRONIC PHOENIX was struck across the nose by the whip of N Rawiller (UNICORN).

S Clipperton (LAND GRANT) stated that prior to the Home Turn he improved to be racing to the outside of the eventual winner LITTLE DRAGON and he anticipated that LAND GRANT would close off the race strongly as it was travelling well at this time.

He said however after straightening LAND GRANT commenced to race with its head on the side and hang in badly and at the same time was not finishing off the race as strongly as he thought it would.

He said despite his efforts to have LAND GRANT remain racing to the outside of LITTLE DRAGON, LAND GRANT continued to hang in badly and he was unable to prevent the horse from shifting in from behind LITTLE DRAGON.

He said he was also not able to continue to shift to the inside of that horse as WISKY had improved to be racing to the inside of LAND GRANT.

He added as a result of him not being able to shift LAND GRANT to the outside of LITTLE DRAGON, LAND GRANT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse for the final 100 Metres of the race and as a consequence he was not able to test the horse properly and then over the concluding stages was not able to ride it out.

After reviewing the videos, the Stewards accepted Jockey Clipperton's explanation.

UNICORN lost its left front plate after the race.

The Stewards will interview K C Leung regarding the disappointing performance of GRAND HARBOUR, a last start winner, prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Sunday, 26 March 2017.

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

WISKY, LITTLE DRAGON and FANTASTIC KAKA were sent for sampling.

GENERAL:

1.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 19 March 2017 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of JUMBO LUCK, MR PICASSO, MR ORIOLE, HIT A HOME RUN, AMBITIOUS SPEEDY, FANTASTICLIFE, INVINCIBLE DRAGON, DASHING FELLOW, CONTENTMENT, ENCORE BOY, STRATHCLYDE, SUPER JUNIOR, RATTAN, COOL AND NEAT, G-ONE LOVER, CITY LEGEND, MAMBO ROCK, JOLLY GENE, RAPPER DRAGON, PAKISTAN STAR, RIGHT CALL, HANG'S DECISION, WESTERN EXPRESS and SUPER LIFELINE revealed no apparent abnormality.



2.

Racing Laboratory tests of SPEEDY WALLY, ATOMIC BLAST, FIVE STARS AGENT, SHAMAL, VITAL SPRING, MEISTERSTUECK, BOLD STITCH, LUCKY POWER, G-ONE LOVER, PENANG HALL, GORGEOUS AGAIN, GARLIC YEAH, STAR OF JOY, APACHE SPIRIT, ALWAYS WIN, BRAVO WATCHMAN, ACE KING, SKY KING, PEOPLE'S KNIGHT, FRIENDS OF KA YING, WHAT ELSE BUT YOU, GO BEAUTY GO, NOTHINGILIKEMORE and HAPPY AGILITY (12.3.17) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawal Race 2: VERY RICH MAN on 21.3.17 on veterinary advice.



2.

Fine Race 2: B Prebble (BEAR CHUM): $5,000 for improper use of the whip.



3.

Warnings Race 1: N Rawiller (LETSGOFREE) for shifting out after the 200 Metres.

Race 3: H W Lai (GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS) for shifting in near the 1050 Metres.

Race 6: N Callan (NAVAS) for shifting in making the first turn near the 1000 Metres.



4.

Suspensions Race 2: M Chadwick (KWAICHUNG BROTHERS) for careless riding near the 800 Metres (from 5 April 2017 until 10 April 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 8: C Y Ho (ISTANBUL BEY) for careless riding near the 800 Metres (from 5 April 2017 until 10 April 2017 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).



5.

Irregular Heart Rhythms Race 6: NAVAS EXCEL ONESELF

6.

Barrier Trials Race 4: PO CHING TREASURE Race 6: CHARITY GLORY NAVAS EXCEL ONESELF

7.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: VERY RICH MAN Race 4: AUTUMN GOLD PO CHING TREASURE Race 6: NAVAS EXCEL ONESELF