17/09/2013  Happy Valley  Race 3

GOLDEN GUNNERS began very awkwardly and shortly after the start, from the outside barrier, was shifted across behind runners. WINE LOVERS and HELLO KIMBERLEY bumped on jumping. HIGH RETURN began only fairly. POWER COOL began awkwardly and shortly after the start was crowded for room between BORNFREE and SMART KIDS which shifted out. From a wide barrier, CAPITAL K was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching the 800 Metres, WINE LOVERS got its head up, proved very difficult to settle and was severely checked away from the heels of BORNFREE. Rounding the Home Turn, BORNFREE was momentarily steadied when crowded for room between CAPITAL K and GOLDEN GUNNERS which shifted out. Over the final 100 Metres, KING ON EARTH was unable to obtain clear running and because of this was not able to be tested over the final 50 Metres when having to be checked away from the heels of RED LUCKY STAR. In the Straight, GOLDEN GUNNERS lay in under pressure and proved difficult to shift to the outside of KING ON EARTH. The Stewards inquired into C Y Ho’s riding of P J HALL, in particular between the 800 Metres and approaching the 500 Metres. C Y Ho stated that after being instructed to have P J HALL where it was comfortable without pushing the horse along, he was able to take up a forward position in the early stages as P J HALL began very well. He said after being left racing in a three wide position, he allowed his mount to improve forward of SMART KIDS passing the 800 Metres. He said he looked on a number of occasions to his inside to establish whether he was clear of that horse to shift in and passing the 700 Metres was satisfied that he had given SMART KIDS sufficient clearance and therefore commenced to shift over to race outside the leader, RED LUCKY STAR. He added soon after passing the 700 Metres he formed the opinion that he had shifted in to a position one horse off the fence and had cleared SMART KIDS, however, he received a number of calls from Z Purton, the rider of SMART KIDS, alerting him that he was not sufficiently clear and for this reason he again looked to his inside approaching the 600 Metres to ascertain whether he was in fact clear of that horse. He said when he did this, he observed that SMART KIDS was positioned to the inside of his heels even though he felt that he obtained the position one horse off the fence. He said this created an element of doubt in his mind as to whether he was sufficiently clear of SMART KIDS and as Z Purton continued to call, he elected to shift his mount out into a three wide position to avoid causing interference whilst also being mindful of Trainer D J Hall's instructions not to push P J HALL along albeit that he believed that instruction related to the early stages of the race. C Y Ho conceded that in retrospect he had erred in shifting P J HALL out rather than riding his mount along so as to provide SMART KIDS with sufficient clearance. C Y Ho was advised of the Stewards' concerns regarding his riding of P J HALL at this stage of the race and that he was being given the benefit of the doubt in respect of this matter. He was further advised that his riding had come under notice and that he must at all times ride his mounts competitively and in such a manner that is not open to query. A veterinary inspection of SMART KIDS immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SMART KIDS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SMART KIDS, POWER COOL and RED LUCKY STAR were sent for sampling.