01/02/2012  Happy Valley  Race 4

DISPATCHER was withdrawn on 30.1.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind foot abscess) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter TURIN CHAMPION. Before being allowed to race again, DISPATCHER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WIND DAMPER and TEAM WORK bumped at the start. From wide barriers, QUANTUM EXPRESS and LIFE OF BEAUTY were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Apprentice K C Ng (BENEFACTOR) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that shortly after the start he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of TURIN CHAMPION, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled and CAGA SPIRIT, NATURAL FLAME and WINNING ARCH to all be crowded for room. After this, NATURAL FLAME and CAGA SPIRIT were further steadied when crowded for room between TURIN CHAMPION and WINNING ARCH which shifted out away from the heels of BENEFACTOR. Apprentice Ng was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 1 March 2012 on which day he may resume race riding (4 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension shall commence on Thursday, 16 February 2012 on which day Apprentice Ng was due to resume race riding from a suspension incurred at the Sha Tin racemeeting last Sunday. G Cheyne (WINNING ARCH) reported that after shifting in across to the outside of BENEFACTOR after the 1000 Metres, WINNING ARCH, with the blinkers added tonight, over-raced and he was not able to settle his mount for some distance in the middle stages. Rounding the Home Turn, CAGA SPIRIT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GRACYTOM. At the entrance to the Straight, WINNING ARCH, which was commencing to give ground, was steadied away from the heels of WIND DAMPER which shifted in. TEAM WORK, which was racing to the inside of WINNING ARCH, was inconvenienced when disappointed for running between that horse and BENEFACTOR. For some distance after the 200 Metres, CAGA SPIRIT raced in restricted room between TURIN CHAMPION and DANEWIN TIGER. Throughout the race, TURIN CHAMPION travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of DANEWIN TIGER, B Prebble stated that he had intended to ride his mount in about 5th or 6th position due to having drawn gate 3. He said after beginning well DANEWIN TIGER was steadied away from the heels of BENEFACTOR shortly after the start. He said when this happened DANEWIN TIGER commenced to race ungenerously and got its head up on a number of occasions approaching and making the turn near the 1000 Metres. He said after this DANEWIN TIGER travelled only fairly and was never completely comfortable in its action. He added when placed under pressure in the Straight DANEWIN TIGER did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it weakened out of the race over the final 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of DANEWIN TIGER after the race revealed that the horse had sustained a small wound over the left hind tendon region. A veterinary inspection of TURIN CHAMPION after the race did not show any significant findings. DANEWIN TIGER, WIND DAMPER and BENEFACTOR were sent for sampling.