30/03/2014  Shatin  Race 8

AMBITIOUS CHAMPION was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind). Before being allowed to race again, AMBITIOUS CHAMPION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. For some distance after the start, PEPPERMINT raced in restricted room between LOVING STAR and HELENE FUN STAR which got its head on the side and shifted in. In the early stages, CLUB LIFE got its head on the side and hung out and after being crossed by WINNIE’S HORSE near the 1300 Metres commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. Passing the 900 Metres, D’OR WONGCHOY was crowded for room inside BOY OH BOY (D Whyte) which shifted in when not properly clear. D Whyte was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he leaves comfortable racing room for runners to his inside in similar circumstances. At the entrance to the Straight, HELENE FUN STAR shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of REAL GENEROUS which became unbalanced. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident had occurred after the 150 Metres which cast sufficient doubt on whether WINNIE’S HORSE (T Angland) should be declared the winner of the race. Subsequently B Prebble, the rider of KEEN TACTICS, second placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against WINNIE’S HORSE being declared the winner of the race, alleging interference to his mount after the 150 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that near the 150 Metres WINNIE’S HORSE shifted in, resulting in T Angland correcting his mount at which time it then shifted out. KEEN TACTICS, which was improving behind WINNIE’S HORSE, was then shifted by its rider to the outside of the heels of WINNIE’S HORSE into clear running between that horse and CLUB LIFE. As the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied on the evidence that KEEN TACTICS had properly established running outside the heels of WINNIE’S HORSE at the time that horse shifted out, the Stewards overruled the protest/objection and declared weighed-in on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Over the concluding stages, HELENE FUN STAR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BOY OH BOY. Throughout the race, BOY OH BOY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding WINNIE’S HORSE being ridden in a forward position, Trainer K W Lui advised that at its two most recent starts over 1650 Metres at Happy Valley, he had discussed the positioning of the horse with the rider on those occasions. He said in both cases it was anticipated that the races would be run at a genuine tempo and due to WINNIE’S HORSE being drawn in barriers 8 and 10 respectively, it was felt that the horse would have to do too much to cross runners to its inside if it were to be ridden in a forward position. He said it was therefore agreed that the horse should be taken across behind runners in the early stages as this provided the horse with the best opportunity to finish off these races. He added in respect of today’s race, he discussed the riding of the horse with T Angland and both parties anticipated that the race would be run at a slow tempo. He said the 1600 Metres at Sha Tin provides more of an opportunity for horses to be able to improve their positions in the early stages and obtain forward positions and he believed that with the anticipated slow pace, WINNIE’S HORSE would be able to assume a forward position without too much use having to be made of it in the early stages. After considering the tempo of today’s race compared to that of the two most recent races that WINNIE’S HORSE had competed in, the Stewards accepted Mr Lui’s evidence and took no further action. BOY OH BOY, WINNIE’S HORSE and KEEN TACTICS were sent for sampling.