02/06/2010  Happy Valley  Race 7

STREET CAT was withdrawn on 31.5.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore fetlock) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LOYAL ARMY. Before being allowed to race again, STREET CAT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WINE WIN was slow to begin. Approaching the 1000 Metres, ALWAYS SOMETHING was steadied away from the heels of ISLAND SPEED. Entering the Back Straight passing the 1000 Metres, OCEAN WIDE, which had been steadied to obtain a position behind ISLAND SPEED, clipped the heels of that horse and blundered when ISLAND SPEED shifted out slightly. Passing the 1000 Metres, BULLISH KING (M Chadwick) proved difficult to settle and when galloping close to the heels of HIGH POINT shifted out and away from the heels of that horse, resulting in HONGKONG SUPERSTAR being taken out across the heels of OCEAN WIDE and being checked. Whilst the Stewards acknowledged that BULLISH KING was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of HIGH POINT, M Chadwick was advised in future to ensure he does his best to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. Near the 700 Metres, HONGKONG SUPERSTAR was steadied away from the heels of BULLISH KING which shifted out. Passing the 600 Metres, OCEAN WIDE was momentarily crowded for room inside WINE WIN which shifted in slightly. Apprentice K C Leung (ISLAND SPEED) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that shortly after entering the Straight he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HIGH POINT, resulting in that horse being taken across the rightful running of TAI SING YEH, causing both HIGH POINT and TAI SING YEH to be severely checked and lose the running to which they were entitled. Apprentice Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 8 July 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (5 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Wednesday, 16 June 2010. C W Wong (LOYAL ARMY) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of OCEAN WIDE, causing that horse to be taken in onto ISLAND SPEED, resulting in that horse being unnecessarily crowded for room and becoming unbalanced when buffeted to the inside of OCEAN WIDE. C W Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday 21 June 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension shall commence on Sunday, 13 June 2010 on which day C W Wong was due to resume race riding from a suspension incurred at the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 23 May 2010. In addition, C W Wong was fined $10,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. Over the concluding stages, OCEAN WIDE got its head on the side and raced tight outside ISLAND SPEED. Throughout the race, WINE WIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the riding of BULLISH KING, M Chadwick stated that after HIGH POINT crossed BULLISH KING approaching the 1000 Metres, BULLISH KING, which was racing for the first occasion over 1200 Metres at Happy Valley and with the blinkers added, proved very difficult to settle. He added that as a consequence he was obliged to check away from the heels of HIGH POINT and shift out into a one-off position. He said after this BULLISH WIN continued to be difficult to settle and after obtaining a trailing position behind OCEAN WIDE, he shifted BULLISH KING out away from the heels of that horse due to the manner in which BULLISH KING was racing. He said this resulted in BULLISH KING racing in a three wide position behind WINE WIN. He said he anticipated that WINE WIN was being ridden in such a manner as to clear runners to its inside and take up a position on the fence in the lead. He said passing the 600 Metres he allowed BULLISH KING to shift out into a four wide position with a view to trailing WINE WIN across in the event that that horse was able to clear runners to his inside, however, when WINE WIN was not able to clear OCEAN WIDE and remained racing in a three wide position, BULLISH KING was left racing in a four wide position without cover. He said the manner in which he had ridden BULLISH WIN tonight was due to the horse`s failure to settle throughout the race. M Chadwick was advised that his riding of BULLISH KING, particularly his decision to shift out from a trailing position behind OCEAN WIDE into a three wide position and then his further decision to shift to the outside of WINE WIN into a four wide position, had come under notice and was not the ride expected of a jockey of his standing. M Chadwick was further advised to ensure that where circumstances permit he avails himself of advantageous positions and does not ride his mounts in such a manner as to cover unnecessary ground, thereby setting them too great a task. A veterinary inspection of TAI SING YEH and HIGH POINT after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ALWAYS SOMETHING after the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, ALWAYS SOMETHING will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TAI SING YEH, VITAL FLYER and LOYAL ARMY were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ISLAND SPEED had sustained a cut to the inside of its right hind heel.