Recap by phillip woo

Xiang Bai Xi came with a bold move down the outside from last at the 900m to grab victory 50m out and land a betting move. He has been in great form. Murray's Partners finished very well to make it close on the wire after settling third last from a tricky gate. It was a much-improved effort on his recent form but he did have a light weight. Golden Spectrum sustained a move from the 600m travelling behind midfield to fill a placing. He's building towards a win in this grade. Dynamic Eagle regained his momentum to get up for fourth despite getting badly squeezed between the quinella pair passing the 200m. He should have at least placed. Fast Pace knocked up 100m out to just miss a quartet spot after dictating the run. It was another honest effort. World Famous just held his ground over the final 100m after stalking the leader from the outside. He requires further relief in the handicaps. Cinquante Cinq stayed on all right after a oneoff run better than midfield. The big weight took its toll. Favourite Superbella will sleep well after a difficult run without cover in midfield.

Racing Incident Report

Race Nine: (688) - LAM TSUEN RIVER HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1800Meters

STAR OF GLORY was slow to begin.

BUNDLE OF DELIGHT raced in restricted room shortly after the start between CHEERFUL DAYS and WORLD FAMOUS which shifted out.

From wide barriers, MURRAY'S PARTNERS, DYNAMIC EAGLE and XIANG BAI QI were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover.

FAST PACE lost its right front plate after travelling a short distance.

Near the 1100 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS raced tight outside WORLD FAMOUS which shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FAST PACE.

Passing the 850 Metres, GOLDEN SPECTRUM shifted out and commenced to improve its position and after this travelled wide and without cover.

At the entrance to the Straight, CHEERFUL DAYS and CINQUANTE CINQ raced tight as CINQUANTE CINQ shifted to the outside of WORLD FAMOUS to obtain clear running.

Approaching the 200 Metres, CINQUANTE CINQ and CHEERFUL DAYS brushed.

C Wong (MURRAY'S PARTNERS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of DYNAMIC EAGLE, resulting in that horse being checked and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

In the circumstances, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for C Wong's licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to commence on Wednesday, 2 June 2021 and to expire on Monday, 7 June 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

Near the 150 Metres, CINQUANTE CINQ was shifted out away from the heels of WORLD FAMOUS which itself shifted out after being awkwardly placed outside the heels of FAST PACE.

Passing the 100 Metres, CINQUANTE CINQ was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WORLD FAMOUS which was taken out by FAST PACE.

Close to the finishing line, SUPERBELLA was steadied when crowded for room between CINQUANTE CINQ and GOLDEN SPECTRUM (C Schofield) which shifted in.

C Schofield was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

When questioned, J Moreira stated that he was given similar instructions tonight on how to ride SUPERBELLA as he was at its last start, that is, to take up a trailing position behind the leaders if possible.

He said at its most recent start he rode SUPERBELLA along in the early stages from the outside barrier but it soon became apparent to him that he would be unable to clear runners to his inside and would likely be left racing very wide and therefore he elected to steady the horse in the early stages and obtain a position with cover further back in the field than intended.

He said in tonight's race he again rode his mount positively in the early stages with a view to crossing CHEERFUL DAYS and obtaining a trailing position behind the likely leaders of the field in WORLD FAMOUS and FAST PACE.

He said it was felt that both WORLD FAMOUS and FAST PACE constituted the only real front runners in the race and therefore SUPERBELLA may be able to obtain a trailing position behind those horses.

He said despite riding SUPERBELLA along in the early stages he was not able to cross CHEERFUL DAYS to his inside and therefore near the 1600 Metres he steadied SUPERBELLA with a view to obtaining a trailing position.

He said as he was doing this CINQUANTE CINQ was able to improve its position to the inside of SUPERBELLA and when that horse remained racing one horse away from the rail, this resulted in SUPERBELLA travelling wide and without cover until passing the 700 Metres.

He said considering that SUPERBELLA had been required to race wide and without cover for a significant portion of the race, he believed that the horse finished off the race satisfactorily in the Straight until the concluding stages at which stage he was not able to ride it all the way to the end of the race due to racing in restricted room inside GOLDEN SPECTRUM.

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

SUPERBELLA, XIANG BAI QI and MURRAY'S PARTNERS were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Sha Tin Racemeeting on 16 May 2021 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of REGENCY GEM, DIAMOND BRILLIANT, WHISKEY NEAT, MASTER EIGHT, FIRE BALL, BREEZE OF SPRING, UNITED WE STAND, CORRIENTHES, FANTASTIC SHOW, GALAXY EMPEROR, GLUCK RACER, MERCURIAL, GOOD BUDDY, REGENCY BO BO, ALL IN MIND, VALIANT DREAM, LUCKY MORE, BEAUTY FIT, ALL FOR ST PAUL'S, FANTASTIC TREASURE and E STAR revealed no apparent abnormality.

2.

Racing Laboratory tests of ELIGERE, ZACIAN, WONDER BRAHMA, KWAI CHUNG ELITE, GOLDEN MISSION, FIRST RESPONDER, SEASONS BLISS, KUNG FU TEA, SPEEDY DRAGON, EL JEFE, RED ELYSEES, SWOT TROOPERS WIND, ZONE D, PEACH BLOSSOMS, UNICORNBABY, KILLER BEE, MIGHTY VALOR, GAMEPLAYER TIMES, SKYEY SUPREME, SMART FOLKS, GALLANT EXPRESS, SUPER TEN, HALL OF CHAMP, HONGKONG GREAT and THE ROCK (8.5.21) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Riding Changes After riding in Race 1, Z Purton became indisposed and was stood down by the Chief Medical Officer.

Accordingly, permission was given for the following riding substitutions: Race 3: K C Leung on MASTER OF FUN Race 4: H T Mo on GOOD SHOT Race 5: C Y Ho on ARES Race 6: A Badel on CHATER PINS Race 7: V Borges on SPONTANEOUS Race 8: A Badel on STOCK LEGEND Race 9: C Schofield on GOLDEN SPECTRUM

2.

Fines Race 2: Trainer K W Lui: $2,000 for a declaration error.

Race 3: C Y Ho (HAPPILY FRIENDS): $60,000 for careless riding over the concluding stages.

Race 4: A Hamelin (SPLIT OF A SECOND): $5,000 for weighing in 2 lbs overweight.

3.

Severe Reprimand Race 1: Z Purton (RED MAJESTY) for shifting in passing the 1300 Metres.

4.

Reprimand Race 4: J Moreira (UNIVERSAL GO GO) for shifting out approaching the 450 Metres.

5.

Warnings Race 8: A Badel (STOCK LEGEND) for shifting in near the 650 Metres.

Race 9: C Schofield (GOLDEN SPECTRUM) for shifting in close to the finishing line.

6.

Suspensions Race 3: C Y Ho (HAPPILY FRIENDS) for careless riding over the concluding stages (from 6 June 2021 until 10 June 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 8: H Bentley (ALCARI) for careless riding near the 550 Metres (from 2 June 2021 until 7 June 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

Race 9: C Wong (MURRAY'S PARTNERS) for careless riding passing the 200 Metres (from 2 June 2021 until 7 June 2021 on which day he may resume race riding - 2 Hong Kong racedays).

7.

Stalls Test Race 3: VICTORY IN HAND

8.

Barrier Trials Race 2: SMART THINKER ROSSE SCARPE Race 4: FLAMING PASSION Race 8: STOCK LEGEND

9.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 2: SMART THINKER ROSSE SCARPE HAPPY ICHIBAN Race 4: FLAMING PASSION Race 5: CHIKORITA Race 8: STOCK LEGEND

10.

Course and False Outside Rail Arrangement Turf B Course

11.

Rolling Arrangement The track was rolled after race

5.