23/03/2016  Happy Valley  Race 4

NO MONEY NO TALK began awkwardly and shortly after the start, from a wide barrier, was shifted across behind runners. Shortly after the start, FLYING FORCE was momentarily crowded for room inside FIVE STARS AGENT. From wide barriers, HAPPY GAINS and POWER DRAGON were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Apprentice K K Chiong (BRILLIANT PROPOSAL) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 600 Metres she permitted her mount to shift in under pressure when not clear of TOP BONUS, causing that horse to be taken in onto CALL ME ACHIEVER, resulting in those horses being unnecessarily crowded for room, becoming unbalanced and losing ground. Apprentice Chiong was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 7 April 2016 on which day she may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Thursday, 31 March 2016. In addition, Apprentice Chiong was fined $2,500 being half of her average daily earnings in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. After the 600 Metres, RACING MATE was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, NO MONEY NO TALK lay in and bumped the hindquarters of FIVE STARS AGENT. FIVE STARS AGENT then became unbalanced and shifted out making the turn, resulting in NO MONEY NO TALK being hampered when crowded for room inside RACING MATE. HAPPY GAINS made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly. Passing the 250 Metres, SMART DECLARATION was shifted to the inside of TOP BONUS after being disappointed for running between that horse and FANTASTICO which shifted in. Passing the 200 Metres, FIVE STARS AGENT was shifted in away from the heels of CALL ME ACHIEVER which shifted in when giving ground. H W Lai (FANTASTICO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in under pressure when not clear of TOP BONUS, causing that horse to be checked and further that he permitted FANTASTICO to continue to shift in under pressure, resulting in SMART DECLARATION also being severely checked close to the finishing line. When shifting in across the running of SMART DECLARATION, H W Lai stopped riding FANTASTICO with the whip in an endeavour to prevent it from shifting in further. H W Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 11 April 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Thursday, 31 March 2016. In addition, H W Lai was fined $30,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 2 further racedays. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration the high degree of carelessness exhibited by Jockey Lai in this incident and the nature of the interference sustained by TOP BONUS and SMART DECLARATION. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that BRILLIANT PROPOSAL was lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, BRILLIANT PROPOSAL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TOP BONUS, BRILLIANT PROPOSAL and FANTASTICO were sent for sampling. <24/3/2016 Additional Veterinary Report>The Veterinary Officer reported that GREAT SKY was lame in its left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, GREAT SKY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.