19/06/2011  Shatin  Race 3

After being loaded, NOTUS became fractious and repeatedly kicked out at the back gates. NOTUS was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said it was lame in the right hind leg and as such was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of NOTUS. Before being allowed to race again, NOTUS will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SUPER GENTLEMAN and ALP’S GLORY bumped at the start. Passing the 900 Metres, JOHNSON was steadied away from the heels of JOLLY WONGCHOY. FLYING KEEPER, which was racing inside JOHNSON, got its head on the side and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of JOHNSON. Near the 700 Metres, QUELLE SURPRISE was steadied away from the heels of JOHNSON. Passing the 100 Metres, FLYING KEEPER was steadied away from the heels of JOHNSON which shifted in under pressure. The performance of EASY AHEAD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, EASY AHEAD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of H W Lai (JOHNSON), 5th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse’s finishing position, he was nonetheless reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels to the end of the race where circumstances permit. When questioned, M W Leung stated that he had been instructed to obtain the lead on EASY AHEAD, on the fence if possible. He said that in pre-race discussions with Mr L Ho, the trainer of EASY AHEAD, it was felt that there was only one other leader in the race, namely SPEEDY and that EASY AHEAD, with the step-up in distance today to 1400 Metres, should be able to obtain a forward position. He said EASY AHEAD began only fairly and then he had to make considerable use of his mount in an attempt to obtain the lead as instructed. He added HOT ASSET showed superior speed to EASY AHEAD and was able to cross his mount shortly after the start. He said he continued to ride EASY AHEAD along to obtain the position outside HOT ASSET in accordance with his instructions and was able to obtain this position passing the 1100 Metres. He added that he observed SPEEDY being ridden along into a forward position to his outside after this point and having in mind that he had been instructed to lead on EASY AHEAD, he continued to maintain his position to the inside of that horse and outside HOT ASSET. He said although he was aware that the pace of the race was fast, having in mind the instructions he had been given, he did not feel it was available to him to steady EASY AHEAD and race behind SPEEDY. He added after the 800 Metres he continued to maintain his position between those horses and near the 600 Metres he was obliged to ride EASY AHEAD along as the horse was already commencing to find it difficult to maintain its position. Mr Ho stated that having drawn barrier 3, he felt that EASY AHEAD would be able to take up a forward position in today’s race and, in his opinion, would be able to lead on the fence. He said EASY AHEAD had previously raced well when ridden in this manner. He confirmed that in his pre-race discussions with Jockey Leung, he felt that the race would be run at only an average tempo as, in his opinion, only EASY AHEAD and SPEEDY would be likely to take up forward positions. He said that he had not anticipated HOT ASSET to be part of the speed today and he felt that EASY AHEAD was able to race on the fence with SPEEDY to its outside. He added after watching the race live and after having noted the sectional times of today’s race, he felt that it would have been in EASY AHEAD’s best interests to have been steadied approaching the 1000 Metres which would have allowed SPEEDY to cross to race outside HOT ASSET. When questioned, Y T Cheng stated that he had been instructed to lead on SPEEDY which was consistent with the manner in which he had been instructed to ride that horse at its two most recent races when the horse had been successful. He said it was felt that the race would be run at an average tempo and that SPEEDY may be able to obtain a position in the lead. He said in the early stages, from barrier 11, he rode his mount along to go forward as instructed. He said shortly after the start he became aware that HOT ASSET had obtained the lead on the fence and that EASY AHEAD was also being ridden to obtain a forward position. He said he continued to shift across towards the lead on SPEEDY and gave the horse a slap down the shoulder with the whip in the left hand to have it cross runners to his inside. He said however that as HOT ASSET and EASY AHEAD maintained their positions to the inside of SPEEDY, SPEEDY was left racing three wide and without cover. He added whilst it was available to him to come back on SPEEDY and attempt to obtain a position behind EASY AHEAD, he felt that he was committed to obtaining a forward position and that he had hoped that either HOT ASSET or EASY AHEAD would be steadied to allow SPEEDY to shift in and slow the tempo of the race which he knew was fast. He added at its most recent start SPEEDY had sat off the leader of the race and that horse had established a considerable break over SPEEDY, however, no horse had shifted in in front of SPEEDY. He said having in mind that he was instructed to go forward and lead the race, he did not want at this time to steady SPEEDY and have to race behind runners. Trainer T W Leung confirmed that he had instructed Y T Cheng to obtain the lead on SPEEDY and that this was consistent with the manner in which he had instructed him to ride the horse at its most two recent wins. He said he anticipated HOT ASSET to be ridden behind the speed today and the other leader of the race, namely EASY AHEAD, may not be able to obtain a forward position as the horse is mostly known to him as one that is able to lead races over 1600 Metres and longer. He added at the 1400 Metres of today’s race, he felt SPEEDY would show superior speed to cross runners to his inside and allow the horse to race in the lead on the fence. Both M W Leung and Y T Cheng were advised that whilst they were attempting to comply with their respective instructions to go forward and lead the race, their riding of EASY AHEAD and SPEEDY respectively after the 1200 Metres, having in mind the tempo of the race, lacked the necessary judgement and initiative. Both jockeys were severely reprimanded and advised that they must ride their mounts in such a manner so as to ensure that they are able to finish off the race. When questioned, J Lloyd stated that as HOT ASSET was stepping up in distance to 1400 Metres for the first time today, he had been instructed to be positive in the early stages and obtain a lead on that horse. He said it was felt that JOLLY WONGCHOY and SPEEDY would be ridden into forward positions and as those horses were drawn to the outside of HOT ASSET, it was believed that HOT ASSET, with its light weight, would be able to obtain the lead without having to make undue use of the horse. He said he had been instructed by Mr A T Millard, the trainer of HOT ASSET, not to unnecessarily restrain the horse as it has a documentary history of breathing problems. He said it was felt that racing over 1400 Metres, if the horse were to be restrained, this breathing issue would prevent the horse from being able to run out the distance of the race. He added that as instructed, he rode his mount along in the early stages to clear runners to his inside and he was able to obtain the lead on the fence after the 1300 Metres. He said when he observed runners to his outside being ridden to obtain forward positions, he allowed his mount to stride along in the lead so as to show his intention to lead today’s race. He said despite this, EASY AHEAD and SPEEDY were ridden along to the outside of HOT ASSET and having in mind that he was instructed not to unduly restrain HOT ASSET, he attempted to come back on that horse without breaking its stride. He added that after weakening in the Straight HOT ASSET made a notable breathing noise after the race. He said because of the manner in which he was instructed to ride HOT ASSET and due to EASY AHEAD and SPEEDY improving to his outside, HOT ASSET was obliged to set a faster tempo in the lead than had been anticipated. Mr Millard confirmed the instructions given to J Lloyd. Following the race, HOT ASSET was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said this examination revealed no significant findings. After the race, QUELLE SURPRISE was examined by the Veterinary Officer at the request of Trainer D E Ferraris. The Veterinary Officer said an endoscopic examination of QUELLE SURPRISE showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. Also after the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on ALP’S GLORY at the request of Trainer C S Shum. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. SUPREME WINNER and SUPER GENTLEMAN were sent for sampling.