01/01/2012  Shatin  Race 6

ALMIGHTY WINDPOWER was withdrawn on 30.12.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SEASONS CREST (T Angland). Before being allowed to race again, ALMIGHTY WINDPOWER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, COMMON GOAL bounded in the air, resulting in its rider, H W Lai, becoming unbalanced. From the outside barrier, REALLY THE BEST was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. When being steadied to shift in to obtain cover shortly after the start, SUPER TEAM got its head up. K C Leung (EVEN EMAIL) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1400 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of KINGSTON SPARTACUS, causing that horse to be checked and in turn taken in onto HUMONGUS which was crowded for room. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday, 22 January 2012 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, 15 January 2012. Near the 1200 Metres, KINGSTON SPARTACUS was bumped on two occasions by NICHOLSON (B Prebble) which attempted to shift in. B Prebble was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he leaves sufficient room for runners to his inside in similar circumstances. At the 650 Metres, GOOD GAINS got its head up on a number of occasions and lost ground when being checked away from the heels of OUR DYNASTY. REALLY THE BEST, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of GOOD GAINS in consequence. Approaching the 600 Metres, HUMONGUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KINGSTON SPARTACUS and in doing so shifted out and made contact with COMMON GOAL, causing that horse to become unbalanced. B Prebble pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of SEASONS CREST, causing that horse to be hampered and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. B Prebble was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 16 January 2012 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension shall commence on Monday, 9 January 2012 on which day he was due to resume race riding from a suspension incurred at the Sha Tin racemeeting on 17 December 2011. In addition, B Prebble was fined $40,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. Throughout the race, NICHOLSON travelled wide and without cover. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that MY BEST CHOICE had lost its right front plate. A veterinary inspection of SILVER DRAGON and HUMONGUS after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in each horse's trachea. EKRAAR EMPEROR and NICHOLSON were sent for sampling.