15/06/2011  Happy Valley  Race 8

KYARA was withdrawn on 14.6.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ROYAL PUMPKIN (D Beadman). Before being allowed to race again, KYARA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Over the concluding stages, FORTUNE RED PEPPER was held up for clear running behind BEAUTY GLOW and consequently was not able to be ridden out to the end of the race. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if FORTUNE RED PEPPER had been afforded a fair start. Evidence was taken from Jockey J Lloyd, the rider of FORTUNE RED PEPPER, Mr C W Chang, the trainer of that horse, and Mr T McGovern, the Starter. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the official videos, it was ascertained that after being loaded, FORTUNE RED PEPPER became very fractious and lunged at the front gates. J Lloyd said that when this happened he dropped his whip which he had been carrying in the right hand, the whip becoming wedged between the horse’s shoulder and the barrier partition. He said he looked down to his right to ascertain whether he would be able to regather the whip and at this time he called to the Starter and raised his right hand to signal to the Starter that he was not ready for the start to be effected. He added that shortly after this he put his right hand down in an attempt to regather the whip, however, at this time the start was effected and because he was not ready for the start, he became badly unbalanced in the saddle, resulting in FORTUNE RED PEPPER beginning very awkwardly and losing a considerable amount of ground. Mr McGovern stated that he was aware that FORTUNE RED PEPPER had become fractious, however, at the same time ALWAYS SOMETHING, which was drawn towards the outside, was also proving very fractious and for this reason he did not become aware that Jockey Lloyd had requested for the start to be delayed. The Stewards formed the opinion that J Lloyd, by virtue of attempting to alert the Starter that he did not have his whip and was not ready for the start to be effected, deemed that FORTUNE RED PEPPER had not been afforded a fair start. Acting under the powers of Rule 12(19), the Stewards declared FORTUNE RED PEPPER a non-runner in this race. When questioned, B Prebble (HAPPY TUMBLER) stated that prior to the race it was felt that PENGLAI XIANZI, the favourite of the race, would lead and that there was not significant follow-up speed behind that horse and it was also felt that it would be in the best interests of HAPPY TUMBLER not to be giving too much start away to PENGLAI XIANZI which was considered to be HAPPY TUMBLER’s principle danger. He said for this reason he was asked by Mr D J Hall, the trainer of HAPPY TUMBLER, that if the horse began well tonight he should attempt to obtain a position in 4th or 5th with cover. He said when HAPPY TUMBLER began well, he commenced to shift across towards the fence and was able to take up a position behind the eventual winner without having to make too much use of HAPPY TUMBLER to do so. Mr Hall stated that after discussing the manner in which HAPPY TUMBLER would be ridden with the owners of the horse and Jockey Prebble, it was felt that if HAPPY TUMBLER were to be ridden in the back of the field, the horse would be disadvantaged and would find it difficult to beat PENGLAI XIANZI which they considered to be the horse’s principle danger and would have an uncontested lead. He said that for this reason he advised Jockey Prebble that if HAPPY TUMBLER began well, he should be positive on the horse in the early stages and ride it in a more forward position. The Stewards will speak to M Chadwick, the rider of PENGLAI XIANZI, regarding the tempo he set on that horse prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 19 June 2011. After the race, it was reported that PENGLAI XIANZI had an abrasion wound to the right hip. A veterinary inspection of SEMOS after the race did not show any significant findings. PENGLAI XIANZI, CHEER and FUN RIDER were sent for sampling.