03/06/2009  Happy Valley  Race 2

At declaration time, M Du Plessis was declared as the rider of both FORTUNE GALLOP and JOYFUL YEARS. It was established that M Du Plessis had a firm commitment to ride FORTUNE GALLOP. As such, the Stewards permitted Y T Cheng to be substituted as the rider of JOYFUL YEARS. For this declaration error, M Du Plessis was fined $2,000. FORTUNE GALLOP, which was fractious in its stall, was slow to begin. When the gates opened, GIANT BLIZZARD, which had been fractious in its stall, bounded in the air and as a consequence lost ground. W M Lai, the rider of NOBLE TWINS, was charged with two counts of careless riding [Rule 100(1)]. The particulars of the first charge to which Jockey Lai pleaded not guilty were that near the 1100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of DRAGON BOY and VICTORY MASCOT, causing those horses to be crowded for room, lose the running to which they were rightfully entitled and be checked. After considering Jockey Lai’s submission in answer to the charge, the Stewards believed the charge ought to be sustained and therefore found him guilty. The particulars of the second charge to which Jockey Lai pleaded guilty were that shortly after straightening he shifted his mount out when not clear of GIANT BLIZZARD, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. The Stewards believed the appropriate penalty for the first charge was for Jockey Lai’s licence to ride in races to be suspended until Thursday 2 July 2009 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday 24 June 2009. In addition, W M Lai was fined $20,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. The Stewards believed the appropriate penalty for the second charge was for Jockey Lai’s licence to ride in races to be suspended until Thursday 2 July 2009 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday 24 June 2009. In addition, W M Lai was fined $20,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. These two suspensions are to be served concurrently. After the 200 Metres, FORTUNE GALLOP, which was closing the race off, was steadied and shifted in away from the heels of DRAGON BOY which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of GRAND GENERAL. In the Straight, SUPER IDEAL hung in. Throughout the race, KING OF FISH travelled wide and without cover. DRAGON BOY, SUPER IDEAL and VICTORY MASCOT were sent for sampling.