18/12/2013  Happy Valley  Race 5

CROESUS was withdrawn on raceday afternoon by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (colic). Before being allowed to race again, CROESUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On jumping, SUNNY PEARL got its head up and began awkwardly and from a wide barrier was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. LOVELY BOY began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped TAYSIDE. Passing the 1100 Metres, GERONIMO MEADOW momentarily raced tight between TAYSIDE and MAKE IT, both of which shifted ground. YEUNG SING, which was racing to the inside of GERONIMO MEADOW, was steadied in consequence. Making the first turn after the 1100 Metres, TAYSIDE got its head up when proving difficult to settle and racing tight inside SAMADHI which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MR AWARD. For some distance after the 800 Metres, GERONIMO MEADOW got its head up when racing keenly and awkwardly placed close to the heels of TAYSIDE. MR AWARD brushed the running rail rounding the Home Turn. After the 150 Metres, SKIP COURT, which was finishing off the race well, was shifted in away from the heels of SAMADHI when taking a narrow run between that horse and SMART KIDS which was giving ground. D Whyte, the rider of the 6th placegetter, KING DERBY, pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 100(2) in that he failed to ride his mount out all the way to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stewards. D Whyte was fined a sum of $20,000. When questioned regarding his riding of KING DERBY, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed, from barrier 9, to position KING DERBY in midfield or slightly worse and to obtain cover if possible. He said it was explained to him that, in the opinion of Mr C S Shum, the trainer of KING DERBY, that the horse, when ridden in a more forward position at its last start, did not finish off the race as well as it did at its previous start when successful after being ridden in about a midfield position. He said in accordance with his instructions, he steadied KING DERBY in the early stages in an attempt to obtain a position with cover in midfield. He said making the first turn after the 1100 Metres MAKE IT was positioned to the inside of KING DERBY and he would have had to make use of the horse to clear that runner which would have been contrary to his instructions as it would have resulted in KING DERBY being ridden in a forward position. He said therefore he attempted to steady KING DERBY and obtain a position behind MAKE IT. He said due to the circumstances of the race he was left racing in a three wide position without cover and making the turn after the 600 Metres he felt there was an opportunity to obtain cover behind MAKE IT and have that horse take him into the Home Straight as that horse was being urged forward at that time. He said despite his attempts to obtain cover behind MAKE IT, SKIP COURT was positioned to his inside with YEUNG SING to that horse’s inside and therefore he was unable to shift in behind MAKE IT. He added after the 500 Metres he had to shift his mount out slightly to ensure pressure was not applied to SKIP COURT to his inside and by doing this that allowed GERONIMO MEADOW the opportunity to shift out from behind MAKE IT when that horse improved its position nearing the 400 Metres. He said after being taken wider on the Home Turn by GERONIMO MEADOW, he balanced his mount up in the early part of the Straight before commencing to ride his mount out vigorously hands and heels. He said after placing KING DERBY under pressure in the Straight it finished off the race fairly. Mr Shum confirmed that he had been disappointed with the manner in which KING DERBY had finished off the race last start when ridden more positively than its previous start, therefore he wanted the horse to be ridden in midfield or worse so that it could finish off its race. He said it was his opinion that the circumstances of the race tonight were such that KING DERBY was not able to obtain a good position and therefore was not able to close off the race as strongly as he had hoped. D Whyte was advised that his riding passing the 500 Metres and in the early part of the Straight had come under notice and he was further advised that he must ride his mounts in a competitive manner to ensure that his handling of horses is not open to query. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of TAYSIDE, J Moreira stated that he had been asked to position the horse behind the speed as TAYSIDE did not finish off its race as anticipated last start when ridden in the lead. He said making the first turn TAYSIDE resented racing tight inside SAMADHI and after this travelled only fairly. He said after placing the horse under pressure from the 500 Metres, TAYSIDE did not respond to his riding and was most disappointing in the manner in which it weakened out of the race in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of TAYSIDE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, M L Yeung stated that YEUNG SING was left flat-footed when the field quickened after the 500 Metres and came under heavy pressure prior to rounding the Home Turn. He did say that over the concluding stages YEUNG SING closed off the race well and became awkwardly placed close to the heels of MR AWARD. A veterinary inspection of YEUNG SING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SMART KIDS and SAMADHI at the request of Trainers C H Yip and K L Man respectively. The Veterinary Surgeon said these examinations showed a substantial amount of blood in both horses’ trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SMART KIDS and SAMADHI will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LOVELY BOY and GERONIMO MEADOW were sent for sampling.