26/03/2014  Shatin  Race 6

After being loaded, ENDORSING became fractious. Before being allowed to race again, ENDORSING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. MEDALLIST began awkwardly and got its head up and shortly after the start was taken across behind runners. BUDDY BUDDIES was slow to begin. AMBASSADORSHIP and ENDORSING bumped at the start. Approaching the 1400 Metres, MARTIAL KING was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AXIOM. M Chadwick (MARTIAL KING) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 400 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of GREEN MANNER, causing that horse to be taken out across the rightful running of PERCY JACKSON which was checked. TOWERING STORM, which was following PERCY JACKSON, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. M Chadwick was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 17 April 2014 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 Sunday, 6 April 2014. Following the race, Z Purton advised that he had been instructed to position RIYADH in midfield if possible, however, despite being ridden along in the early stages, the horse did not show any early speed and got further back than had been intended. After the race, B Prebble stated that MEDALLIST came under pressure well prior to the Home Turn and, despite being vigorously ridden along, did not respond and weakened noticeably in the early part of the Straight. He said as he was concerned regarding the manner in which MEDALLIST was giving ground, he felt that something may have been amiss with the horse and therefore he eased it down over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of MEDALLIST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of MEDALLIST, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MEDALLIST will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, H W Lai stated that prior to the race OLE OLE was unusually relaxed. He said for this reason he gave the horse a good warm up behind the barriers in an endeavour to switch on the horse. He said OLE OLE however continued to be quieter than usual and, despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, did not show any early speed and became somewhat detached from the field in the early and middle stages. He added he rode his mount along throughout the race in an endeavour to have it make up lost ground, however, despite this, OLE OLE would not join onto the main body of the field. He said he brought the horse to the outside rounding the Home Turn as it finishes off its races strongly on the outside of runners, however, despite being put under considerable pressure, OLE OLE did not close off the race and only beat some weakening horses. He said he had no concerns with the action of OLE OLE, however, the horse was reluctant to race competitively at any stage of the event. A veterinary inspection of OLE OLE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of OLE OLE, a last start winner on the surface, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, OLE OLE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of TOWERING STORM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HARBOUR MASTER and I SMELL MONEY were sent for sampling.