23/09/2012  Shatin  Race 10

GROOVY was tardy to begin. BRIGHT STAR and EURO SWIFTLY were slow to begin. From wide barriers, MR BOND, KEEN WONGCHOY and IMPERIAL ROME were all taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, BRIGHT STAR was steadied away from the heels of PRESIDENT LINCOLN which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of VOILE ROUGE. B Prebble (NOBLE ALPHA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after the 1200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of MR BOND, causing that horse to be checked, to strike the heels of NOBLE ALPHA and to blunder. B Prebble was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 22 October 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, 14 October 2012. Approaching the 1000 Metres, VOILE ROUGE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of FLEET COMMAND. Also approaching the 1000 Metres, BUBBLE CHIC became unbalanced when being checked away from the heels of MAJESTIC FALCON. KEEN WONGCHOY, which was following BUBBLE CHIC and proving difficult to settle, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse in consequence. Passing the 1000 Metres, IMPERIAL ROME shifted in and brushed the running rail when awkwardly placed inside the heels of MAJESTIC FALCON. After the 800 Metres, GROOVY was left racing wide and without cover after being taken out by VOILE ROUGE. KEEN WONGCHOY had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. When questioned, M Chadwick (FLEET COMMAND) stated that it was anticipated that today’s race would be run at a moderate tempo and therefore he had been instructed to obtain a position behind the anticipated leaders in the race, GOLD BALL and GROOVY. He said it was felt that if the tempo of the race was as expected, FLEET COMMAND would get too far out of its ground and would not be able to close off its race if ridden back. He said in accordance with his instructions, he allowed FLEET COMMAND to obtain a forward position and commenced to shift in shortly after the start. He said GOLD BALL went forward as anticipated, however, GROOVY did not begin as well as it was expected and for this reason he was left racing three wide in a forward position in the early stages. He said rather than remain racing wide, he allowed his mount to continue forward of VOILE ROUGE to race outside the leader, GOLD BALL. He said once he did this, FLEET COMMAND, as it had done previously in its races, commenced to prove difficult to settle and would not relax. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of NOBLE ALPHA, B Prebble stated that prior to the race it was anticipated that there was a lack of speed in the race and for this reason it was hoped that he could obtain a position forward of midfield. He said however that whilst NOBLE ALPHA began well, a number of runners went forward to his inside and he felt that NOBLE ALPHA’s best interests would be served by shifting it behind runners in the early stages rather than go forward as intended and risk racing wide. He said after obtaining a position behind KYARA after the 1200 Metres, NOBLE ALPHA travelled very well until it was shifted out rounding the Home Turn to make its finishing run. He said NOBLE ALPHA immediately came under pressure and was very disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding. He said near the 200 Metres NOBLE ALPHA’s action deteriorated and for this reason he eased the horse down over the concluding stages. He added he had barrier trailed NOBLE ALPHA in the lead up to today’s race against horses that were more highly rated than NOBLE ALPHA. He said based on the performance of the trial against more highly rated horses, he expected that NOBLE ALPHA would run well in today’s race. A veterinary inspection of NOBLE ALPHA after the race did not show any significant findings, however, an endoscopic examination was not able to be conducted on the horse. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that KEEN WONGCHOY had sustained a cut to the left front coronary band. A veterinary inspection of PRESIDENT LINCOLN after the race did not show any significant findings. PRESIDENT LINCOLN, VOILE ROUGE and GROOVY were sent for sampling.