10/03/2012  Shatin  Race 1

TRAVEL KING began awkwardly. JUST GOOD was slow to begin. INVINCIBLE HEART began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between MUSTANG and MERRY TOWKAY which shifted in. From the outside barrier, DAILY DOUBLE was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 1100 Metres, WORLD WAY momentarily raced in restricted room between GOOD JOB and FIERCE FORCE which shifted out. After this, GOOD JOB got its head up on a number of occasions and proved difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PLANET. At the entrance to the Straight, DAILY DOUBLE, which had been held up for clear running, was steadied away from the heels of INVINCIBLE HEART which shifted to the outside of WORLD WAY. DAILY DOUBLE (H W Lai) then had difficulty obtaining clear running for a short distance in the early part of the Straight and near the 200 Metres had to be severely checked after improving close to the heels of GOOD JOB. H W Lai was advised to show more judgement than he did on this occasion so as to ensure that the safety and welfare of horses and riders are not compromised. In this incident, GOOD JOB became unbalanced and DAILY DOUBLE shifted in and bumped JOYFUL JOYFUL which became unbalanced. Approaching the 200 Metres, TRAVEL KING was shifted out away from the heels of MUSTANG. K C Leung (INVINCIBLE HEART) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of DAILY DOUBLE and to its outside GOOD JOB, resulting in those horses being crowded for room and losing the running to which they were rightfully entitled. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 2 April 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, 25 March 2012. In addition, K C Leung was fined $30,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. Throughout the race, JOYFUL JOYFUL travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, U Rispoli reported that although GOOD JOB was crowded for room near the 100 Metres after becoming unbalanced prior to this, the horse nonetheless was disappointing. He said GOOD JOB travelled well in the early and middle stages of the race and when asked in the early part of the Straight initially responded well to his riding, however, shortly after came under pressure and did not finish off the race as well as he had expected. A veterinary inspection of GOOD JOB after the race did not show any significant findings. GOOD JOB, PLANET and KING OF FISH II were sent for sampling.