01/07/2013  Shatin  Race 10

SKY FAR was withdrawn on 30.6.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter GREAT STORIES (A Suborics). Before being allowed to race again, SKY FAR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FIGHTING BOY stood flat-footed at the start and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, FIGHTING BOY will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. TURIN PEARL began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped MR GOURMET. EXCITING DREAM was crowded for room at the start between FIGHTER CLASS and MR GNOCCHI, both of which shifted ground. When being steadied to obtain cover after the 1200 Metres, both MY NAME IS BOND and DUAL HAPPY got their head up and proved difficult to settle. K C Leung (QUEEN’S WHISTLE) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 800 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of MR GOURMET, causing that horse to be severely checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. After this, QUEEN’S WHISTLE was shifted out to relieve the tightening to MR GOURMET, resulting in QUEEN’S WHISTLE travelling wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 11 July 2013 on which day he may resume race riding. The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Thursday, 4 July 2013. In addition, K C Leung was fined $40,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating two further racedays. Near the 700 Metres, MR GNOCCHI commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out when checked away from the heels of BEAUTY JOURNEY and in doing so bumped POLYMER WIN. When questioned regarding the improved performance of ALPHA GRAND, Trainer D J Hall stated that the horse’s improved run was not anticipated by the stable. He said after its most recent run, ALPHA GRAND had given him the impression that it had jarred up and therefore he restricted the horse mainly to slow work. He said this was reflected by the horse’s increase in body weight as a result of its training programme being eased. He said he felt that the rain that had fallen during today’s racemeeting had resulted in some give in the ground and that ALPHA GRAND had appreciated the surface given that it had raced successfully on a rain affected track in New Zealand prior to being imported into Hong Kong. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MR GOURMET, D Whyte stated that after receiving significant interference approaching the 800 Metres, his mount changed lead legs and then made the turn awkwardly. He said because of this MR GOURMET was awkwardly placed inside the heels of QUEEN’S WHISTLE on a number of occasions. He said because of the way MR GOURMET was travelling, he was not able to prevent EXCITING DREAM from shifting out to his inside on the Home Turn. He added he placed MR GOURMET under pressure in the Straight, however, the horse was disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding and finished off the race only one-paced. He said even given the fact that MR GOURMET, which was having only its third race start in Hong Kong today, received severe interference, nonetheless the horse was disappointing in that it did not quicken at any stage in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of MR GOURMET immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EXCITING DREAM, ALPHA GRAND and MR GNOCCHI were sent for sampling.