22/10/2015  Happy Valley  Race 8

On arrival at the Start, the tongue tie applied to FAT CHOY HONG KONG was refitted. SICHUAN VIGOUR began very awkwardly and lost ground. GOT FLY shifted out at the start resulting in LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT being taken out and bumping heavily with TWIN DELIGHT which became badly unbalanced. From wide barriers, WAH MAY FRIEND and VERDANE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After being ridden along for a short distance, REGENCY KING was then shifted across behind runners soon after the start to obtain cover. K C Leung (GOODHEART SUCCESS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the winning post on the first occasion he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of REGENCY KING, causing that horse to be taken in onto SICHUAN VIGOUR which was unnecessarily crowded for room and further, that he allowed GOODHEART SUCCESS to continue to race tight on REGENCY KING and approaching the 1300 Metres permitted his mount to shift in when not properly clear of REGENCY KING, causing that horse 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 Thursday, 19 November 2015 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, 8 November 2015. The Stewards adjourned an inquiry into the reason for LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT being severely checked away from the heels of TWIN DELIGHT passing the 1200 Metres until prior to the races on Sunday, 25 October 2015 to allow Mr Y S Tsui, the allocated trainer of Apprentice H N Wong (FAT CHOY HONG KONG) to be present. When LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT was checked, GOT FLY and STAR MAJESTIC, which were following, were hampered. SICHUAN VIGOUR, which was following STAR MAJESTIC, was badly checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. REGENCY KING got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOODHEART SUCCESS which was very awkwardly placed behind WINNIE'S HORSE near the 1100 Metres. Making the turn near the 1000 Metres, LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FAT CHOY HONG KONG. Near the 50 Metres, WAH MAY FRIEND was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FAT CHOY HONG KONG. When questioned regarding the performance of LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT, B Prebble stated that after being severely checked passing the 1200 Metres, LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT continued to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of FAT CHOY HONG KONG passing the 1000 Metres. He said LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT then did not settle until after the 700 Metres. He said LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT came under pressure after the 500 Metres and in the Straight gave ground. He added LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT's performance was directly attributable to the fact that the horse proved very difficult to ride and would not settle in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TWIN DELIGHT, HORSE OF FORTUNE and GOT FLY were sent for sampling.