Recap by phillip woo

Archippus quickened nicely to take control 150m out for the win after enjoying a lovely run in midfield on the fence from a tricky gate. He's as honest as the day is long and goes well on either surface. Punted late Born In China closed off strongly after travelling second from the rear from an awkward gate. Mr Genuine had to settle for third after advancing to the front 250m out following a prominent run. He running very well but keeps finding one or a few too good. House Of Fun ran on steadily near the inside after being allowed to find his feet second from the rear. He's more effective at Sha Tin. Almababy stayed on well from midfield. He pops up now and then. Verbinsky closed off all right from behind midfield in his first run of the campaign but new trainer Michael Freedman might not have much to work with off his current mark. Favourite Fantastic Eight gradually faded after chasing a hot pace in the one-out, one-back.

Racing Incident Report

Race Eight: (289) - MERCURY HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1200Meters

FABULOUS ONE shifted out at the start and bumped FANTASTIC EIGHT.

ARCHIPPUS shifted out on jumping and bumped HOUSE OF FUN.

A short distance after this, HOUSE OF FUN and BORN IN CHINA were crowded for room between ARCHIPPUS which continued to lay out after becoming unbalanced due to making contact with HOUSE OF FUN and WAH MAY FRIEND which shifted in marginally before being bumped on the hindquarters by BORN IN CHINA, resulting in WAH MAY FRIEND becoming badly unbalanced and being turned in across BORN IN CHINA which as a result was checked.

From a wide barrier, BLOCKER DEE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Making the turn approaching the 1000 Metres, FABULOUS ONE (N Rawiller) got its head on the side, shifted out and made contact with FANTASTIC EIGHT.

FABULOUS ONE then became unbalanced and shifted in, resulting in MR GENUINE being momentarily crowded for room and being steadied.

N Rawiller was advised that whilst FABULOUS ONE was unbalanced in this incident, nonetheless he must make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground.

Passing the 500 Metres, ARCHIPPUS commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of MR GENUINE.

After the 400 Metres, MR GENUINE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FABULOUS ONE.

Approaching the 200 Metres, BORN IN CHINA, which was finishing off the race strongly, was momentarily held up for clear running.

BORN IN CHINA was then shifted to the outside of FANTASTIC EIGHT passing the 200 Metres to obtain clear running.

Throughout the race, SUPER LIFELINE travelled wide and without cover.

After the race, Apprentice H T Mo (WAH MAY FRIEND) reported that his saddle shifted to the right on jumping, causing him some inconvenience in the early stages.

He said he was then able to correct the position of his saddle after entering the Back Straight.

A veterinary inspection of WAH MAY FRIEND and FABULOUS ONE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

A veterinary inspection of FANTASTIC EIGHT immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg.

Before being allowed to race again, FANTASTIC EIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

FANTASTIC EIGHT, ARCHIPPUS and BORN IN CHINA were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Races 3 - 8 were each put back 5 minutes.

2.

Trainer A S Cruz was fined the sum of $5,000 for breaching the Track Work Regulations as a result of PAKISTAN STAR (V325) wearing the incorrect saddle cloth number during track work this morning.

PAKISTAN STAR worked wearing saddle cloth number S442, the allocated saddle cloth for PAKISTAN BABY.

Mr Y N Mok, stables assistant allocated to Mr Cruz's stable, was advised that a report would be forwarded to Stables Management in respect of his involvement in this matter.

It should be noted that Mr Cruz's stable staff reported to the duty Stipendiary Steward officiating at track work this morning that PAKISTAN STAR (V325) had worn the incorrect saddle cloth number.

PAKISTAN BABY (S442) later worked wearing its correct saddle cloth number.

3.

Omission from Racing Incidents Report of 17 December 2017 Sha Tin Racemeeting - Race 7 (278) Over the concluding stages, INDIGENOUS STAR was awkwardly placed outside the heels of GOOD DAYS which shifted out.

For this reason, INDIGENOUS STAR was not able to be ridden out all the way to the winning post.

4.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 17 December 2017 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of HAVE FUN TOGETHER, LEAN PERFECTION, SUPER EIGHTEEN, PROUD SKY, AUDACITY, NICE FANDANGO, AMBITIOUS SPEEDY, UGLY WARRIOR, ELUSIVE STATE, EASY GO EASY WIN, AMAZING STAR, NICE KICK, NOBLE STEED, ROYALE ELEGANCE, INDIGENOUS STAR, ENJOY LIFE, GOOD DAYS, PING HAI STAR, NEW ELEGANCE, GREEN ENERGY, PICK NUMBER ONE, STRATHCLYDE, PINGWU SPARK and HAPPY AGILITY revealed no apparent abnormality.

5.

Racing Laboratory tests of CIRCUIT HASSLER, SERGEANT TITANIUM, VICTORY BOYS, KEY WITNESS, SIMPLY BRILLIANT, SOUTHERN LEGEND, NOTHINGILIKEMORE, HIGHLAND REEL, TALISMANIC, MR STUNNING, D B PIN, LOCKHEED, WAH MAY FRIEND, PERPETUAL JOYANCE, SEASONS BLOOM, BEAUTY GENERATION, WESTERN EXPRESS, TIME WARP, WERTHER, SPICY SURE, REGENCY BO BO, TIME TO CELEBRATE and RATTAN (10.12.17) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Fines Race 1: C Schofield (BLISS CARTEL): $7,000 for being overweight.

Race 2: Apprentice M F Poon (KIROV): $25,000 for careless riding at the entrance to the Home Straight.

Race 7: C Schofield (MERRYGOWIN): $7,000 for being overweight.

General: Trainer A S Cruz (PAKISTAN STAR): $5,000 for breaching the Track Work Regulations.

2.

Severe Reprimand Race 2: N Callan (SPRING WIN) for shifting in at the 50 Metres.

3.

Reprimand Race 3: Apprentice H T Mo (WAH MAY BABY) for shifting in near the 1300 Metres.

4.

Warnings Race 1: O Doleuze (WINFULL PATROL) re making a celebratory gesture prior to the finishing line.

Race 3: K Teetan (GOLDEN SLEEP) for shifting out near the 100 Metres.

M Chadwick (HAR HAR HEART) re his riding at the 50 Metres.

Trainer C H Yip (GOLDEN SLEEP) re the horse attempting to savage another runner.

Race 5: Apprentice H T Mo (CELESTIAL NOVA) re his riding in the middle stages.

Trainer C S Shum (CELESTIAL NOVA) re giving rigid instructions.

Race 8: N Rawiller (FABULOUS ONE) for shifting in making the turn approaching the 1000 Metres.

5.

Suspension Race 2: Apprentice M F Poon (KIROV) for careless riding at the entrance to the Home Straight (from 7 January 2018 until 11 January 2018 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

6.

Stewards' Inquiry & Protest/Objection Race 2

7.

Bleeders Race 3: CALL ME AWESOME Race 7: KING MORTAR

8.

Barrier Trials Race 2: WONDERFUL TIGER Race 4: MAGIC AGILITY TRIUMPHAL WIN Race 6: ANDOYAS

9.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 4: MAGIC AGILITY TRIUMPHAL WIN Race 5: SMART BABY Race 6: ANDOYAS Race 8: FANTASTIC EIGHT