20/10/2013  Happy Valley  Race 7

SUNNY FAY was slow to begin. BOTH SURE began awkwardly and shortly after the start was hampered by YOU READ MY MIND which got its head on the side and shifted in. From the outside barrier, LUCKY HAMMER was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, MY GOAL failed to muster speed. W M Lai (LONDON WALK) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after assuming the lead near the 1000 Metres he steadied his mount, causing the tempo of the race to slacken abruptly which resulted in YOU READ MY MIND being hampered and BOTH SURE having to be checked away from the heels of LONDON WALK for some distance and in turn causing SPOKE TO CARLO to be checked away from the heels of BOTH SURE. W M Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday, 10 November 2013 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Wednesday, 30 October 2013. Passing the 600 Metres, SPOKE TO CARLO, which was travelling keenly, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of YOU READ MY MIND. YOU READ MY MIND raced tight rounding the Home Turn between JAZZY FEELING and LONDON WALK which shifted out to obtain clear running. In this incident, YOU READ MY MIND made contact with the hindquarters of JAZZY FEELING which became unbalanced. After the 200 Metres, TURF MAGIC was steadied and shifted in when disappointed for running between ALL FRIENDS and BOTH SURE which shifted out under pressure. Over the final 100 Metres, SPOKE TO CARLO got its head on the side and hung in and in doing so bumped YOU READ MY MIND, causing both horses to become unbalanced. SPOKE TO CARLO continued to hang in over the concluding stages and because of this was not able to be fully tested in the run to the finishing line. Close to the finishing line, SUNNY FAY was struck across the head by the whip of D Whyte (ST YAZIN). Throughout the race, ALL FRIENDS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of YOU READ MY MIND, K Teetan stated that his mount over-raced for the first 200 Metres of the event. He said after this YOU READ MY MIND commenced to settle better, however, after the 500 Metres he was obliged to ride his mount along in an endeavour to maintain its position and after momentarily racing tight rounding the Home Turn between JAZZY FEELING and LONDON WALK was then disappointing in its failure to finish off the race as it did at its first run this season when successful. He added that, in his opinion, the principal reason for the horse’s disappointing performance was the fact that it over-raced in the early stages which was not the case at its last start. A veterinary inspection of YOU READ MY MIND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. YOU READ MY MIND, BOTH SURE and SPITFIRE were sent for sampling. <21/10/2013 Additional Veterinary Report>YOU READ MY MIND, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time there were no significant findings. YOU READ MY MIND was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer D Cruz this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its left hind foot. Before being allowed to race again, YOU READ MY MIND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.