21/04/2014  Shatin  Race 4

GOLD TALENT was crowded for room at the start between DEMOKLES and LEGEND EXPRESS which was taken out by BRIGHT CONCEPT which began awkwardly. From the outside barrier, SPARKLING SWORD was taken across behind runners in the early stages. MONTE CASTELLO was crowded for room shortly after the start between PENNY LANE which shifted in slightly and AMAZING ALWAYS which shifted out after being bumped by HECO RIDER. A short distance after this, PENNY LANE and BRIGHT CONCEPT bumped due to both horses shifting ground. LEGEND EXPRESS, which was being shifted across behind BRIGHT CONCEPT, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Approaching the 1300 Metres, BRIGHT CONCEPT (T H So) was shifted out to avoid causing interference to PENNY LANE and in doing so made contact with DEMOKLES which at this time was shifting in. This resulted in both BRIGHT CONCEPT and DEMOKLES becoming unbalanced. A short distance later, BRIGHT CONCEPT, when unbalanced, shifted in slightly and made contact with PENNY LANE which was severely checked when crowded for room onto the hindquarters of MONTE CASTELLO which as a result became badly unbalanced. GOLD TALENT, which was following PENNY LANE, was shifted in to avoid the heels of that horse in consequence. As the Stewards were satisfied that T H So had reacted as quickly as possible to his mount shifting in and had immediately attempted to relieve the tightening to PENNY LANE, no further action was taken. However, T H So was advised to be alert to his mounts shifting ground in similar circumstances. J Moreira (PENNY LANE) stated that his mount took some time to recover from this incident. He said in the middle stages PENNY LANE travelled satisfactorily and after shifting his mount to the outside of DEMOKLES near the 600 Metres, PENNY LANE initially responded well to his riding and travelled into the race quite strongly. He said however that passing the 300 Metres PENNY LANE came under pressure and did not finish off the race over the concluding stages. He added, in his opinion, the performance of PENNY LANE in today’s race could be attributed to the significant interference that the horsed sustained in the early stages. DEMOKLES lost its right front plate at the 1300 Metres. EL GRANDE lost its left front plate near the 1100 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn, MEGA CHAMPION was shifted out away from the heels of TRAVEL MASTER which was giving ground. K C Leung (HECO RIDER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that shortly after entering the Straight he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of BRIGHT CONCEPT, causing that horse to be crowded for room inside SAFARI MAGIC and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday, 18 May 2014 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Saturday, 10 May 2014. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration Jockey Leung’s good race riding record this season. Following this incident, BRIGHT CONCEPT, which was unbalanced, shifted in and struck the heels of HECO RIDER and blundered badly. AMAZING ALWAYS was unable to obtain clear running until over the concluding stages and consequently was not able to be properly tested. Throughout the race, SAFARI MAGIC travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of PENNY LANE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of TRAVEL MASTER immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL MASTER will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MONTE CASTELLO and AMAZING ALWAYS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PENNY LANE, BRIGHT STAR and HECO RIDER were sent for sampling.