28/03/2016  Shatin  Race 8

BEAUTY CONNECTION was withdrawn on 27.3.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FORMULA WON (M Chadwick). Before being allowed to race again, BEAUTY CONNECTION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RED DANCER was slow to begin. CLUB LIFE began awkwardly and got its head in the air. CLUB LIFE lost its left front plate shortly after the start. From wide barriers, HO IN ONE, CITRON SPIRIT and GREAT TREASURE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. In the early stages, when being steadied, BEAUTY PRINCE got its head up on a number of occasions when proving very difficult to settle. Near the 1000 Metres, CLUB LIFE and THE SHOW raced tight inside BERLINI which was improving its position. G Mosse (BERLINI) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 900 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of LAUGH OUT LOUD, causing that horse to be unnecessarily crowded for room and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. G Mosse was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 12 May 2016 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, 1 May 2016. In addition, G Mosse was fined $75,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 3 further racedays. WINNAM was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 300 Metres, FORMULA WON and MAGNETISM bumped as FORMULA WON attempted to shift out into clear running between MAGNETISM and BEAUTY PRINCE. For the majority of the race, CITRON SPIRIT travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Trainer D J Hall stated that BERLINI has been getting back in its races and then not being able to make up ground sufficiently in recent starts to be in contention of winning the race over the concluding stages. He said, from the outside barrier today, over 1600 Metres, he felt that there was an opportunity for BERLINI to take up a more forward position and as it was carrying top weight he did not believe that the tempo of the race was such that the horse would be able to make up sufficient ground in the Straight were it to be ridden from the rear of the field. He said therefore he instructed G Mosse to allow BERLINI to travel into a forward position and if another horse was able to lead he could take a trailing position, otherwise he should sit outside whatever horse was leading. He said due to the circumstances of the race, passing the 1200 Metres BERLINI was left racing wide and for this reason G Mosse then allowed the horse to improve its position into the lead. After considering Mr Hall’s evidence and after reviewing the circumstances of the race including a number of BERLINI’s recent races, the Stewards took no further action. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BEAUTY PRINCE, J Moreira stated that his mount over-raced badly in the early and middle stages and was left racing wide and without cover after the 1000 Metres. He said because of this the horse came off the bridle after the 600 Metres and then did not finish off the race, however, he believed that the horse’s finishing position was directly attributable to the manner in which it raced in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY PRINCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY GUY, BERLINI and THE SHOW were sent for sampling.