16/01/2013  Happy Valley  Race 4

HAPPY SCORE shifted in at the start and made contact with the hindquarters of DANZULU which became unbalanced. From a wide barrier, SUPER TIGER was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, KHARU was slow to muster speed. Prior to the 800 Metres, KHARU was shifted out and allowed to improve its position. Shortly after entering the Straight, HAPPY SCORE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MOUNT VICTORY. Approaching the 200 Metres, REAL GENERAL and KHARU raced tight. Apprentice C Y Lui (COMPACT YARN) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of REAL GENERAL, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. Apprentice Lui was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 28 January 2013 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 20 January 2013. Passing the 200 Metres, GOLDMEN Y Y raced in restricted room between ALL BOUNTIFUL and MOUNT VICTORY. Passing the 100 Metres, KHARU shifted out and bumped DANZULU. B Prebble (SUPER TIGER) will be spoken to regarding raising his whip arm above shoulder height over the concluding stages. When questioned, K C Leung (MOUNT VICTORY) stated that from barrier 3, he had been instructed to obtain a midfield position if possible. He said as KHARU was slow to begin at its most recent start, he was advised that if that horse was again slow to begin, he should obtain a position in front of KHARU, however, if that horse began well, he should shift in behind it. He said KHARU began awkwardly tonight and he initially rode MOUNT VICTORY along to see if it was possible for him to clear that horse. He said however that KHARU was vigorously ridden along in the early stages to improve its position to his inside, therefore he elected to take hold of MOUNT VICTORY and shift across behind that horse. He said because KHARU failed to muster speed as quickly as anticipated, it took some time for him to position MOUNT VICTORY to shift across behind that horse and during this time both GOLDMEN Y Y and HAPPY SCORE were able to improve their positions to his inside. He added because of this he was not able to obtain a position closer than three wide and after the 1300 Metres was left racing without cover. A veterinary inspection of MOUNT VICTORY after the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed to ride ALL BOUNTIFUL in a midfield position if possible due to the horse being relatively well drawn in barrier 6. He said he was instructed not to ride his mount along in the early stages to obtain a forward position as it had previously failed to finish off its races when ridden in this manner. He said by contrast, ALL BOUNTIFUL, over the course and distance on 12 December 2012, had finished off the race strongly when ridden in a rearward position. He said ALL BOUNTIFUL began well tonight and he initially rode his mount along to see if it was possible to cross MOUNT VICTORY and KHARU which had not begun well. He said however that KHARU was ridden aggressively in the early stages and when MOUNT VICTORY was positioned to its outside, he believed he would have had to make considerable use of ALL BOUNTIFUL to clear those horses and that this would be contrary to the manner in which he had been instructed to ride the horse. He said for this reason passing the 1700 Metres he elected to steady ALL BOUNTIFUL and obtain a position with cover closer to the rail. He said in order to achiever this, he had to shift ALL BOUNTIFUL behind GOLDMEN Y Y which resulted in ALL BOUNTIFUL racing slightly further back in the field than had been hoped. ALL BOUNTIFUL, DANZULU and KHARU were sent for sampling.