09/01/2013  Happy Valley  Race 4

EXPEDITE (T H So) began awkwardly and shortly after the start was taken across behind runners. T H So was advised that it was noted that his mounts had begun awkwardly in consecutive races and that he must take all available steps to ensure that horses ridden by him are afforded the opportunity to begin well. He was also advised that the Stewards will monitor this aspect of his riding into the future. GLORY WIN and OCEAN WIDE bumped at the start as did QUIET CONFIDENCE and DAPPER BOY. From wide barriers, TOUCH WELL and TEAM WORK were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. At the 800 Metres, DAPPER BOY commenced to over-race and had to be severely checked away from the heels of GLORY WIN. At the 200 Metres, DAPPER BOY and HAPPY HOMING raced tight as DAPPER BOY shifted out into clear running. Near the 50 Metres, OCEAN WIDE was steadied away from the heels of TEAM WORK (O Doleuze) which shifted out under pressure. O Doleuze was severely reprimanded and told that he must make every effort to straighten his mounts in similar circumstances. Throughout the race, QUIET CONFIDENCE travelled wide and without cover. The Stewards considered a protest/objection lodged by H W Lai, the rider of GLORY WIN, which finished 5th, against CHEERS VICTORIES (G Mossé), which finished 4th, alleging interference to his mount near the 300 Metres. After taking evidence from both jockeys and after viewing the official videos, it was established that near the 300 Metres GLORY WIN was hampered when crowded for room between WELL DONE and CHEERS VICTORIES which at this time shifted out to obtain clear running. Bearing in mind where the incident took place and the half length margin between the horses at the end of the race, the Stewards overruled the protest/objection as they could not be comfortably satisfied that had the interference not taken place that GLORY WIN would have finished in front of CHEERS VICTORIES. Accordingly, weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. Subsequently G Mossé was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. When questioned regarding QUIET CONFIDENCE being ridden in a more forward position tonight than at its last start when successful at Sha Tin, M Chadwick stated that he had been asked to obtain a position in front of MAKE IT which was drawn to his inside and which was considered to be a good chance in tonight’s race. He said it was anticipated that the race would be run at a good tempo which would provide QUIET CONFIDENCE with the opportunity to obtain a position with cover in advance of midfield. He said QUIET CONFIDENCE began better than MAKE IT and he rode his mount along for the first few strides to obtain a position in front of that horse as instructed. He said the tempo of the race in the early stages was not as strong as had been anticipated and he took some time to be able to shift QUIET CONFIDENCE in behind WELL DONE. He said when this happened, DAPPER BOY was able to improve its position to the inside of QUIET CONFIDENCE and therefore QUIET CONFIDENCE was left racing in a three wide position without cover. He added that he attempted to obtain cover by riding QUIET CONFIDENCE forward, however, he was not able to shift in and obtain cover and continued to race three wide without cover in a more forward position than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY HOMING and TOUCH WELL after the race did not show any significant findings. CHEERS VICTORIES, MAKE IT and TEAM WORK were sent for sampling.